Martins claims Newcastle winner

Obafemi Martins' 68th-minute goal handed Newcastle a 1-0 UEFA Cup victory over Belgian minnows Zulte Waregem at St James' Park - sealing a 4-1 aggregate success.

The Nigeria international won the game with his second-half winner from Damien Duff's pass as the Magpies struggled to build upon their 3-1 first leg lead.

Steven Taylor, James Milner and Kieron Dyer had earlier gone close, although Steve Harper had to save from Wouter Vandendriessche on 53 minutes and substitute Tim Matthys at the death as the visitors made a game of it.

Zulte coach Francy Dury arrived on Tyneside flying the white flag after the first leg and with his sights set firmly on the weekend's league clash with KAA Gent.

He made eight changes to the side which started at the Jules Otten Stadium, while Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder fielded his strongest available team.

While Newcastle started at a lively pace to put the Belgians under intense pressure, the sides left the pitch at the break with no change in the aggregate score line and with Roeder having shuffled his pack in an attempt to find the breakthrough.

Roeder's response was to switch Albert Luque to the left wing with Milner moving inside to accommodate Damien Duff on the right and Dyer joining Martins in attack.

But after a brief flurry by the visitors, it was Newcastle who took control, Titus Bramble forcing a save from Sammy Bossut and Martins mistiming a header from six yards.

Newcastle were labouring, and Roeder withdrew Nicky Butt and Luque for youngsters Matty Pattison and Andrew Carroll in the search for fresh impetus.

But it was Duff who finally fashioned the opening goal on 68 minutes when he slid a pass into Martins' run, and the striker calmly lifted a shot over the advancing keeper.