SOCCER/ UEFA Cup semi-final, first leg - Newcastle United 0; Olympique Marseille: Traditionally on Tyneside the value placed on clean sheets has not come near that placed on goals, but Newcastle United travel to Marseille's Stade Velodrome in a fortnight knowing that the goalless draw secured here last night means any scoring draw in France will take them to the UEFA Cup final.
It is some prize and it sounds straightforward, but Newcastle know it will be the opposite. Didier Drogba, Marseille's bullocking striker, spurned three opportunities, the last only five minutes from time, and he may not be so wasteful on home turf.
Newcastle could counter that they had moments of their own, notably Shola Ameobi's in the first half and Gary Speed's shortly after the interval, but a worrying statistic for manager Bobby Robson is that Newcastle's last goal created in open play came against Everton here six games ago.
It would be unduly negative to dwell on that, though, especially with the team patched up. Jermaine Jenas and Kieron Dyer may be fit for the return, but it could be another busy night for Jonathan Woodgate, whose reputation was enhanced by this performance. Woodgate contributed hugely to a clean sheet that could be significant indeed.
After so much fretting about injuries Robson was able to select a side more than vaguely recognisable. In Craig Bellamy, Jenas and Dyer, Newcastle had lost a trio which gives them an extra dimension when on song, but Ameobi's surprise fitness was a big plus.
Almost a bigger surprise was seeing Hugo Viana start a match in midfield at St James'. Viana, who cost £8.5 million two summers ago, has begun only two Premiership fixtures here this season.
Viana plays football of a different style and pace from either Dyer or Bellamy and, though there is a simplistic view that he is better suited to European football because of this, Viana's first few touches last night were slow rather than sophisticated.
Marseille's most famous figure, of course, is Fabien Barthez. He was kitted out in neon red for the occasion - hard to miss.
Ameobi maybe thought so when suddenly one-on-one with Barthez in the 17th minute. Released by Shearer's flicked header and a slip by Abdoulaye Meite, Ameobi was free eight yards out. He struck a shot first time and cleanly on the volley, but Barthez, falling backwards, stuck out a leg and the ball cannoned off it.
On the bench Robson was seen to mouth "what a chance".
For the next 15 minutes the game opened up. Newcastle sought to rake long balls towards Shearer and Ameobi, but the Marseille defence was determined and sometimes illegal. Half-chances were carved out for Shearer and Viana, but it was Shay Given who made the next important save of the evening.
A French breakaway, initiated by a weak header in midfield from Viana, had Drogba sprinting down Newcastle's right. As he entered the Newcastle area Drogba cut inside Andy O'Brien and aimed for the far post. Given made a smart block.
The first minutes of the second half, with Newcastle playing towards the Gallowgate End, brought an opportunity for each team.
Marseille were first to show, Sylvain N'Diaye feeding off a rare Woodgate stumble to burst into the box and cross dangerously into the middle. But Woodgate had recovered and cleared impressively.
Thirty seconds later Laurent Robert sped on to another neat touch from Shearer, jinked past a defender and then went to ground all too easily under a challenge from Habib Beye. Beye was booked.
The situation, five yards outside Marseille's area, screamed Shearer. Sure enough, the Newcastle captain supplied a piledriver that Barthez did well to see, never mind save. But, as the ball bounced back, Gary Speed charged in and only because the ball was a fraction behind him did he miss with his shot.
It had the feel of a vital moment, and the feeling grew in the 65th minute when Robert's infuriating attitude almost cost Newcastle a goal.
Sloppily ceding the ball to Demetrius Ferreira, Robert watched casually as Ferreira crossed to the far post where Drogba met the ball on the run and on the volley. Given's right hand post shook as Drogba's effort crashed off it. Robert, for all his set-piece virtues, can ill afford such an approach.
Last night's other semi-final, the Spanish derby between Villarreal and Valencia, also ended in a scoreless draw.
