UEFA Champions League - NEWCASTLE 1 JUVENTUS 0: The Italian newspaper which disgracefully called Bobby Robson a "cretin" on its front page yesterday will presumably have spent last night printing an apology.
Robson earned the description for a joke about Marco Di Vaio, the Juventus forward taken to hospital in Turin three weeks ago. It was an off-the-cuff remark and one that Robson retracted at once.
But the Italian press chose to ignore that, and that made last night's victory for Newcastle, which kept their hopes alive in with their first points, all the more enjoyable. Juventus were beaten by a side containing a back four that had never played together before and with an average age of 22. Some cretin.
One of them, Andy Griffin, played a major part in the goal. So, too, did Gianluigi Buffon.
Lomana Lua Lua partnered Alan Shearer up front and both narrowly missed connecting to Lauren Robert's tempting inswinger. Only a minute had gone when that came in and Newcastle were crashing into tackles, trying to raise a fast tempo and rouse the crowd.
This flurry and a couple that followed had the desired effect - and Buffon made two brave clearances - but then there was also evidence of doubt among defenders at the other end.
In the fifth minute Di Vaio, the man left unconscious - accidentally - by Andy O'Brien in Turin, sped on to Alessandro Birindelli's excellent pass and probably should have scored after bearing down on Harper with Griffin trailing in his wake.
Then came the first of two comical defensive errors by Newcastle. Harper made the first, passing the ball to Titus Bramble in a treacherous area. Bramble was beaten to it by Pavel Nedved but the Czech misfired with Harper well wide of his goal. Bramble then conceded a corner unnecessarily after another mix-up with Harper, though Harper partially redeemed himself by making a slick save at the feet of Di Vaio.
Juventus were getting too much space in attack and, if Newcastle were making forward headway, Shearer and Nol Solano both having decent efforts, there was anxiety that it could all be undone in an instant. Del Piero almost provided it when, profiting from a ricochet on the edge of the home area, he drilled a fierce shot inches over in the 41st minute.
Immediately on the restart Robert set in the sort of corner that beat David Seaman last week in Southampton. Buffon was left stranded as well but the diminutive midfielder Mauro Camoranesi rose to nod away.
But there was a momentum building and its authenticity was proved in Newcastle's next attack. A free-kick won by Shearer was taken short by Robert to Griffin, who burst through and crossed. Buffon threw himself at it but the ball caught his right elbow and deflected across the line.
Guardian Service
NEWCASTLE: Harper, Griffin, O'Brien, Bramble, Hughes, Solano, Jenas, Speed, Robert (Viana 85), LuaLua (Ameobi 85), Shearer. Subs Not Used: Given, Elliott, Acuna, Kerr, Bernard. Goals: Buffon 62 og.
JUVENTUS: Buffon, Thuram, Ferrara, Iuliano, Birindelli, Camoranesi (Zambrotta 69), Tacchinardi, Davids (Conte 45), Nedved, Del Piero, Di Vaio (Zalayeta 57). Subs Not Used: Fresi, Chimenti, Baiocco, Moretti. Booked: Tacchinardi.
Referee: R Pedersen (Norway).
