After United’s encouraging 1-0 win over Serie A high flyers Palermo, press reaction was, for once, positive to a much-improved performance from the lads…

Albert Luque scored the only goal of the game to give Newcastle a memorable win over Palermo and send his side to the top of Group H in the Uefa Cup.Luque nodded in James Milner’s whipped cross from the left to give the Magpies the advantage against the Rosanero’s second-string just before the interval.

Debutant keeper Tim Krul, 18, made great reaction saves from Palermo’s Giuseppe Biava and David Di Michele.

Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder said he had done his homework on Palermo and - despite being without first-team regulars, skipper Scott Parker, Damien Duff, Stephen Carr and Obafemi Martins because of injury - the replacements did more than an able job.

Two players who stood out were midfielders Milner and Nicky Butt, who anchored the midfield very well.

Milner teased and tormented the Palermo backline with mazy runs that were reminiscent of ex-Magpies winger Chris Waddle in his heyday.

BBC Sport

Newcastle claimed a fine 1-0 win in Palermo to move to within touching distance of a place in the third round of the UEFA Cup.

Albert Luque’s 37th-minute header capped an impressive first half from the Magpies.

As Palermo pushed for an equaliser in the second half, debutant goalkeeper Tim Krul kept Glenn Roeder’s side in the game with several match-winning saves.

Palermo simply could not find a way past the Dutch giant and the handful of Newcastle fans were able to celebrate with calls of ‘we are top of the league’ at the final whistle.

F365

Albert Luque scored just his third ever goal for Newcastle as The Magpies secured a fantastic 1-0 win over Palermo in Sicily to take control of Group H.

Glenn Roeder’s side came into the game off the back of a worrying Premiership slump, and with a number of high profile absentees, but the forgotten man of Tyneside popped up with a first half header to defeat the joint Serie A leaders.

Whilst Luque provided a cutting edge in front of goal, the fact that Newcastle maintained their 100 percent record in the Uefa Cup was largely down to teenage keeper Tim Krul as the debutant took full advantage of injuries to Shay Given and Steve Harper to produce a string of outstanding saves as a weakened Magpies side earned an outstanding, if somewhat fortuitous, victory that could galvanise their season.

SkySports

GLENN ROEDER hailed unlikely heroes Albert Luque and Tim Krul as Newcastle secured their first win on Italian soil. Luque, the Toon’s £9.5million signing from Spain, came in from the cold to silence his critics by heading the first-half winner.

But his performance was overshadowed by rookie keeper Krul, 18, who had an outstanding full debut on a memorable night.

He produced an inspired performance against the Serie A high-fliers to all but guarantee the Geordies a place in the UEFA Cup’s knockout stages.

Roeder said: “Tim Krul has had a night to remember but it didn’t surprise me. He’s the best keeper of his age in Holland.

“Albert was given an opportunity, scored the winner and did well playing up front on his own. Now he has to show he can cut it in the Premiership.”

The Toon’s cup exploits this term have been in stark contrast to their Premiership form and this was another great scalp.

The Sun

AN UNLIKELY hero in Albert Luque, an unlikely result, and a major turning point in the season for Newcastle and manager Glenn Roeder.

Spanish striker Luque fired Newcastle to a stunning win to clinch United’s first win on Italian soil in UEFA competitions at their fifth attempt.

The goal has virtually guaranteed the Geordies’ passage into the last 32 with two games still to play, and more significantly provide much-needed forward momentum for Roeder and his underpressure team.

To beat Serie A’s second-placed side with an injury-hit squad represents Roeder’s best result of a season that was threatening to turn sour because of their Premiership form. Teenage keeper Tim Krul was a hero, making his debut in the most testing of arenas and emerging as the man of the match, making three point-blank saves in the second half.

But all Roeder’s men excelled in a memorable display.

Newcastle came under increasing pressure and Krul thwarted striker Andrea Caracciolo whose header looked goalbound.

Then Krul showed his class by stopping a powerful shot from substitute David Di Michele.
And the rookie keeper, in his first senior appearance, then dashed off his line to foil Caracciolo yet again to cap a brilliant debut.

The Mirror

ALBERT Luque’s first half header earned United a hard-earned vicory against Palermo in Sicily on Thursday night.

Glenn Roeder was forced to make six changes to his side for the game in the Renzo Barbera Stadium, but there were heroic performances all over the pitch - with debutant goalkeeper Tim Krul having the game of his life.

After a bright opening from the hosts, joint leaders of Serie A, United took the lead on 37 minutes when Luque headed home a pinpoint centre from James Milner.

After the break Palermo piled forward in search of a leveller, but the Magpies held on and some fine saves from Krul preserved the three points.

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