By Matthew Jones
September 25 2002

Bobby Robson still thinks that his Newcastle side will qualify from the first phase of the Champions League after their 1-0 home defeat to Feyenoord. They face a tough Juventus side next, bearing in mind that they scored 5 goals past the Dynamo Kiev side that beat the Toon 2-0. Sir Bobby Robson has refused to give up any hope of Newcastle getting through the first round of the cup, after his side suffered their second Champions League loss in as many games to Feyenoord.

The Magpies' hopes of progressing through their phase look all but over after the Dutch outfit claimed victory through Sebastian Pardo's fourth-minute volley at St James' Park.

But Newcastle now face back-to-back encounters against Italian champions Juventus and Robson knows it will take a gargantuan effort to salvage their Euro hopes. Remember though, that Juventus scored 5 goals past Dynamo Kiev - the team which beat Newcastle 2-0. Now, it doesn't take a genius to work out who is the better side does it?

"I think we'll have to take an army there next week," Robson said as he contemplated his side's visit to the Stadio Delle Alpi. "But we won't be despondent about it, we'll get over it. We're not silly, no points from two games makes it difficult for us to proceed, but we won't think like that. We have four games to go and we'll do the very best we can. I'm not even thinking that far. We're playing in the Champions League - until we're out, we're in it."

Newcastle can count themselves unlucky not to have taken something from the game and Robson added: "Apart from being a disappointing night, I think it's been a cruel night for us, an unfortunate night.

"We made a mistake from which they scored, so it wasn't a Feyenoord-made goal. But they defended the box quite well and their goalkeeper had a pretty good game. Everything went in to him, nothing spilled out. But we got into some great positions, more than they did, in terms of getting our final ball across the face of goal. We'll play a lot worse than that and win, so I think we've had an unlucky night. They'll be delighted with that.

"I can't crib about any of the players. There wasn't one who didn't give his all for the club. Everybody worked very hard and we kept going right to the end, but we never got a crumb in the box all night. If we'd got one goal, in all honesty, if we'd got on level terms at any stage with a fair amount of time to play, I think we would have won the game. But they're a good side and they saw the game out."