Sir Bobby craves second chance

By Simon Hart

Newcastle United FC may have just exited the UEFA Champions League but Sir Bobby Robson had not lost his sense of humour. As the Champions League banner dropped from the table at which he sat, the Magpies manager quipped: "There's my centre-half down there."

Robson exasperated
Joking aside, Robson's exasperation was evident. Newcastle's youthful exuberance has been a welcome addition to this season's competition, their full-throttle football earning them a Lazarus-like revival in the first group stage, but here they paid for their naïvety. Patrick Kluivert's opening goal on the hour was a gift from the dithering Titus Bramble, who, in seeking to shepherd the ball back to Shay Given, let the Dutchman steal in to score.

Schoolboy defending
"We have the ball, we have two players and Kluivert scores the goal - I said to the players that goal belongs to the schoolyard, it does not belong to St James' Park," Sir Bobby said. "Titus has got to learn that you cannot play football with a lurking, dangerous centre-forward behind you." Internazionale FC's win at Bayer 04 Leverkusen meant even victory here could not have saved Newcastle, but defeat still hurt Robson. Barça's second goal after 75 minutes - a Thiago Motta volley from Juan Román Riquelme's free-kick - earned his defenders "a right whack" for allowing the Brazilian a "free touch".

'We were the better side'
Still, Robson admitted Newcastle's European adventure had been "a great ride" and insisted they had gone down fighting. "We haven't been outclassed in any of the games," he said. "We were clearly the better side with more possession and more chances. Craig Bellamy has had more chances tonight than the entire Barcelona team."

Missed chances
Bellamy certainly did have chances. Three times in the first half he shot wide from the inside-right position in the penalty box.  On 19 minutes, he poked Alan Shearer's low cross goalwards only for Barça goalkeeper Víctor Valdés to deflect the ball on to his far post with his foot. Even after Kluivert's opener, Bellamy flashed two further efforts wide.

Antic delighted
Yet praise should go to Barcelona, the Group A winners, who have now won 13 of their 14 European ties this season, qualifying round included. They slowed the tempo as the match progressed. The Spanish side's coach, Radomir Antic, said: "It was a good game, Newcastle chased the win from the first minute to the last. But I was pleased with my team's victory - they worked hard and played well."

Kluivert praised
Antic cited the contributions of a number of his players, including defender Patrick Andersson, making only his second Champions League start of the season, and reserve-team goalkeeper Valdés, who "played with authority". Kluivert, who received a standing ovation from the home supporters when he left the field, also earned praise. "I'm delighted with his form and his selfless work for the group. If he carries on working like he did today, you cannot ask for me." Another influential figure was Riquelme, "especially when he dropped behind Kluivert". Indeed from one Riquelme pass Fabio Rochemback missed the best chance of the first half.

Lessons to learn
According to Sir Bobby, Barcelona showed the experience his young pretenders were lacking. "They seem to ride the pressure, don't concede a goal and then on the break somehow contrive a goal," he said. Newcastle, he conceded, cannot manage that yet. But they will be back next year to try again. "We liked it so much, we need it next year, we want it next year." This time he wasn't joking.