Football: SWISS STROLL AS BOBBY HITS THE EURO BEAT; Newcastle 1 FC Basle 0 Newcastle win 4-2 on aggregate: Own goal boosts Robson.

Byline: Simon BIRD

SIR BOBBY ROBSON'S side proved they had finally laid to rest the nightmare of their Champions League exit last night by cruising into the business round of the UEFA Cup.

Newcastle will meet some of Europe's elite once again in the third round after rising to Robson's challenge not to mess up on the continent again.

The United manager spent the pre-match build-up admitting the Champions League defeat by Partizan Belgrade had taken weeks to get over, and this was final proof that their season is up an running.

The Geordies needed an own goal from defender Boris Smiljanic to settle them after just 14 minutes and give Basle the impossible task of scoring three at St James' Park to go through. It was never likely to happen, although the brave Swiss outfit gave it their all in the second half, Hakan Yakin hitting post with a free-kick, and Argentine star Julio Rossi netting with a header, only for it to be disallowed.

Newcastle now go into the draw on December 12 knowing only the finest are left in the competition, with the third-placed from the Champions League groups also in the hat, with the next round on February 26 and March 3.

Following their 3-0 weekend win against Manchester City, Newcastle have now won eight of their last 11 games and have shaken off the early-season blues that Europe caused them.

The 40,395 crowd saw an accomplished if unspectacular win that efficiently closed the tie with the minimum of effort, especially given that United have just 39 hours to recover before playing in their televised clash with Wolves at lunchtime tomorrow.

Thankfully Basle came up with the perfect early gift to settle any Geordie nerves in the form of a clumsy own goal by sub Smiljanic.

Laurent Robert swung in a whipped corner kick from the right which evaded all headed challenges and hit the Swiss defender on the shin and rebounded goalward.

A despairing dive Scott Chipperfield could not stop it crossing the line and United were in the comfort zone after just 14 minutes.

Alan Shearer showed he was committed to the cause with a crunching tackle after just 17 seconds that had a bearing on the goal.

He injured Marco Zwyssig and earned himself a booking but the defender had to go off to hand Smiljanic the chance of an embarrassing night. By any standards it then needed a major collapse for Newcastle to lose but even so Robson was taking no chances, fielding his best team, bar Jonathan Woodgate who is just coming back from injury and was rested. He will be back for the Wolves game.

Basle are running away with the Swiss championship and United's scoring feats against them are testament to the form they have hit lately.

The Swiss team, managed by former Spurs boss Christian Gross, created the best of the early chances. Dangerman Hakan Yakin recovered from injury to threaten the most but missed a free header from six yards out before Newcastle took the lead. And Sebastian Barberis also wasted a good chance. But after that is was a rather disjointed display from the visitors, giving Newcastle ample time and space to build attacks, with Robert once again impressive.

Referee Erik Fisker had his yellow card out again after 26 minutes to book Mario Cantaluppi for a blatant dive over Shay Given as he tried to con a penalty.

Shearer had a superb individual effort well saved by keeper Pascal Zuberbuhler as he danced across the 18-yard line and fired at the top corner.

Gary Speed and Given were each making a club record 31st appearance in Europe. Speed dominated midfield and showed no signs of his recent exertions for Wales.

Shearer, who had a bad cut to the head patched up, got in a brave block from a Yakin free-kick before half-time that kept Basle out.

Gross threw four men forward to rattle United's defence, a tactic that worked for a period in the first leg and almost paid dividends here.

One notable attack saw Rossi and Yakin exchange passes four times on the edge of the box before Rossi fired an angled shot just over.

Robson will have been worried by the form of Andy O'Brien who had a poor game. He was beaten by Marco Streller on 40 minutes who managed to get in a shot 15 yards out, but Given saved brilliantly.

Robson took Robert and Kieron Dyer off and immediately subs Darren Ambrose and Nol Solano livened up the attack.

Solano crossed for Shearer who amazingly failed to score from eight yards out with Zuberbuhler making a great save as Basle tired

in the dying minutes. NEWCASTLE:Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard, Dyer, Jenas, Speed, Robert, Shearer, Ameobi. BASLE:Zuberbuhler, Philipp Degen, Quennoz, Zwyssig (Smiljanic 4), Atouba, Barberis, Cantaluppi, Chipperfield, Hakan Yakin, Rossi, Streller.

45% POSSESSION 55%

5 SHOTS ON TARGET 2

5 SHOTS OFF TARGET 6

3 OFFSIDES 3

5 CORNERS 8

15 FOULS 13

1 YELLOW CARDS 1

0 RED CARDS 0

ATTENDANCE: 40,395

MAN OF THE MATCH: Shearer

REPRODUCED FROM THE OPTA INDEX

CAPTION(S):

BLOODIED: Shearer last night; ON A ROLL: Kieron Dyer goes over under the challenge of Basle's Atouba