Newcastle boost their prospects

FAUSTINO ASPRILLA certainly chooses his moments. There are many who have reservations about the Colombian international and indeed there are times in the FA Premiership when he looks as if he does not comprehend what is going on around him, but on the big occasion Asprilla rises.

Last night, in the most difficult of circumstances, alone and isolated up front in far from Colombian conditions, Asprilla's sheer persistence earned Newcastle a draw that would have been a victory but for a moment of recklessness from Pavel Srnicek.

Chasing onto Phillipe Albert's speculative long free kick on the half hour mark, Asprilla nipped in between his two markers, Kastendeuch and the aptly named Terrier, nicked the ball away from both and was set to score as he rounded Letizi until the Metz keeper's long arm brought Asprilla down.

A penalty was inevitable and Peter Beardsley, who missed one in the last round against Ferencvaros, made no similar error this time, the ball speeding into Letizi's bottom corner.

If it was to an extent against the run of play, Newcastle had at least established themselves in the game by then and Asprilla had shown a genuine relish for the encounter. Behind him David Batty was once again perpetual motion, hustling, fighting and continually retrieving possession from the French midfield.

Further behind Albert and Darren Peacock displayed a rare solidity that gave Newcastle a sound defensive platform. With Alan Shearer not even on the bench, David Ginola and Keith Gillespie were the closest men to Asprilla and both contributed sporadic support, although it was tracking back, especially Gillespie, where they did their best work.

Just as the French were beginning to show traces of cohesion, after a threatening opening 29 minutes, Asprilla worked his magic.

Momentarily Metz were jolted but of their rhythm, but as halftime approached they had recovered to a degree and Pires flashed another shot narrowly wide. Immediately after the interval Traore did the same and in the 51st minute Pires made magnificent contact to an Arpinon pass, but the ball again crashed into the advertising boards.

There is, though, madness in the method of most goal keepers and in the 67th minute Srnicek undid all his previous good work with a rash rush at a long cross from Lang on the left. Careering towards the penalty spot, Srnicek seemed not to have noticed the rather large presence of Traore and the Metz centre-forward jumped simply, unchallenged, to nod the ball back-headed into a by now empty net. Srnicek was punching air as the ball went on.

The rest of the game was scrambled resistance with Metz crosses and corners being met by sliced clearances and last ditch toe-ins. Still it was enough and Newcastle's prospects of reaching the last eight next March are quite bright this morning.