United failed to translate total domination into goals as they scraped into the UEFA Cup proper by virtue of Titus Bramble’s goal in Latvia 2 weeks ago.

The result was never in doubt but we were unable to break that deadlock. Oh for a striker.

NUFC: Harper, Carr, Bramble, Taylor, Babayaro, Emre, Duff, Parker, N’Zogbia, Milner, Luque
Subs (not used): Krul, O’Brien, Ramage, Solano, Pattison, Huntington, Butt.

FK Ventspils: Vanins, Ndeki, Gorkss, Kacanovs, Bicka, Pokarynin, Dubenskis, Vukovic, Kolesnicenko (sub Kosmacovs 85), Rimkas (sub Stukalins 90), Ziziulevs
Subs (not used): Davidovs, Soleicuks, Sokolskis, Ladzins, Goncars.

Booked: Pokarynin (5)

Referee: Thomas Einwaller (Austria)

Attendance: 30,498