Newcastle - 2 Celta Vigo - 1:It was not quite as impressive as the 1-1 draw dug out at Arsenal, but a most satisfying evening for Newcastle United, Glenn Roeder and Steven Taylor nonetheless. When the 20 year-old Taylor, a local boy, rose to meet Albert Luque's 86th-minute corner he not only scored his first goal for the club but ensured Newcastle will be involved in the knockout stage in February

Taylor, an excitable fellow, set off on a World Cup-winning sort of celebration but the relief for his manager was Sunday's Premiership game here against Portsmouth can be viewed on the back of a win and apparently no fresh injuries.

Celta Vigo had taken an early lead through Ernesto Canobbio and for a spell in the first half were quicker and slicker but Newcastle gradually played their way into the contest and deserved their win.

Antoine Sibierski had supplied a first-half equaliser and Newcastle's last group game, in Frankfurt next Thursday, is all about winning the group.

Fresh from a derby win against Luque's former club, Deportivo La Coruna, Celta soon got into their passing stride. Canobbio gave a demonstration of his prowess after only nine minutes, curling a sweet shot around Shay Given and into the far corner.

Newcastle were not exactly flowing but an individual piece of skill from James Milner put them level on 37 minutes. As in Palermo, Milner supplied a cross of such accuracy and danger that all Sibierski had to do was nod it in.

Newcastle began the second half knowing that despite not having played all that well, they could have been 3-1 ahead. There was some comfort in that, and also in the willingness of Milner to take men on and beat them.

A 62nd-minute break down the right by Angel ended with a useful shot skimming past Given's right hand.

Yet that was about it and it was Newcastle with the greater ambition - confirmed by Taylor's late header.

NEWCASTLE: Given, Solano, Bramble, Taylor, Ramage, Milner, Butt (Parker 65), Emre (Martins 70), N'Zogbia, Luque, Sibierski. Subs Not Used: Harper, Huntington, Edgar, Carroll, Troisi. Goals: Sibierski 37, Taylor 86.

CELTA VIGO: Esteban, Angel, Yago, Contreras, Placente, Jonathan, Iriney, Borja, Nene (Lopez 74), Baiano (Jesus Perera 61), Canobbio (Jorge 86). Subs Not Used: Pinto, Jonathan Vila, Juncal, Martino. Booked: Contreras. Goals: Canobbio 9.

Referee: Dick Van Egmond (Holland).