Newcastle v Met'st Kharkiv

Met'st Kharkiv 0

FT 90 +4
HT 0-0

Newcastle were held to a goalless draw by Metalist Kharkiv in the last 32 of the Europa League but will rue several chances and two disallowed goals.

Papiss Cisse twice had the ball in the net, only to be denied by the assistant's flag with each decision looking close.

Cisse could not finish when he was one-on-one with the Metalist keeper or tuck in Davide Santon's cross.

Cleiton Xavier had a header saved and shot wide for the Ukrainian side.

On another night, Cisse could have had a hat-trick, and even in stoppage time he had a back-post header saved by the impressive Olexandr Goryainov.

Prior to this game, Newcastle had scored in each of their last 14 European games at home, a run going back to 2004 (via Opta)

Although Newcastle will travel to Ukraine for the second leg next Thursday having drawn a blank, this performance will give them hope they can score an away goal.

Having rediscovered their bounce since the January transfer window when boss Alan Pardew signed a raft of French players, this was another display in which Moussa Sissoko shone.

On his European debut for Newcastle, he provided much of his side's thrust with Yohan Cabaye orchestrating from a deep-lying midfield position.

But the duo were perhaps let down by Cisse's finishing touch as the hosts finished strongly against a tiring Metalist team, who were competing in their first game since the start of December because of their winter break.

Sissoko was the more advanced of the French duo and set up Gabriel Obertan, who dragged his shot wide, before the game's first big talking point.

Cisse had the ball in the net after Sissoko squared to him, but Newcastle's new star was incorrectly ruled offside after bursting through the Metalist defence.

In a lively opening, both teams were willing to attack, subsequently leaving gaps in midfield. Xavier went close on three occasions with right-winger Marlos often dangerous as he bore down on Newcastle left-back Santon.

The visitors qualified top of their group in the previous round and, with a vast array of south American talent on show, there was plenty of invention.

Newcastle continued to find space, though. Cisse should have scored when put clean through by Cabaye, but could not beat Goryainov, the only Ukrainian-born player in the Metalist starting line-up.

Cisse, who has scored seven goals this season, was off-target from another Cabaye pass after the break, and soon after Cristaldo shot wide with only Tim Krul in the home goal to beat.

The game became more scrappy at the start of the second period, but around the hour mark Pardew's men began to gather momentum with Cisse denied by Goryainov, and then the assistant's flag when he met Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's cross to score.

Like Sissoko he was adjudged to be offside, but replays showed the decision was marginal as he converted via the post.

Cisse could not score from several more chances, but on this display Newcastle will travel to eastern Europe with some encouragement.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew: "Both goals are onside and fundamentally the officials got them wrong. It was a great game, they are good side and we played a great game tonight, we were physical and technical enough and in these games those are the margins.

"I can accept one but twice is tough to take. The law says it should favour the striker and both those decisions were level."

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (4)

Newcastle United

01 Krul
02 Coloccini
03 Santon
13 Yanga-M'Biwa
27 S Taylor
04 Cabaye Booked
07 Sissoko Booked
18 Gutierrez Booked
24 Tiote Booked (Sh Ameobi - 79' )
25 Obertan (Marveaux - 62' )
09 Cisse

Substitutes

21 Elliot
05 Simpson
14 Perch
35 Haidara
08 Anita
22 Marveaux
23 Sh Ameobi

FC Metalist Kharkiv

29 Goryainov
03 Villagra
06 Torsiglieri
15 Fininho
08 Edmar
10 Cleiton
11 Sosa
19 Torres Booked
25 Marlos (Willian - 73' Booked )
30 Gueye
21 Cristaldo (Jakson - 81' )

Substitutes

81 Disljenkovic
04 Berezovchuk
05 Shelayev
23 Sebastian Blanco
50 Jakson
55 Oleg Krasnopyorov
86 Willian

Ref: Hagen

Att: 30,157

Match Stats

Possession 44 56

Shots

9 8

On target

5 4

Corners

5 5

Fouls

13 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:25 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:44

Papiss Cisse takes a shot. Oleksandr Goryainov makes a save.

90:00 +2:22

Jonas Gutierrez sends in a cross, clearance made by Papa Gueye.

90:00 +1:56

Gomes Willian takes a shot. Save made by Tim Krul.

90:00 +1:30

Avelino Coelho Jakson produces a cross.

90:00 +0:11

Yohan Cabaye crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.

90:00 +0:11 Booking

Booking Juan Manuel Torres booked for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +0:04

Juan Manuel Torres challenges Moussa Sissoko unfairly and gives away a free kick.

87:13

Free kick taken by Steven Taylor.

87:13 Booking

Booking Gomes Willian is cautioned.

87:07

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jonas Gutierrez by Gomes Willian.

85:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Avelino Coelho Jakson by Davide Santon. Free kick crossed by Jose Sosa, clearance by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. Corner taken by Gomes Willian from the left by-line, Jonas Gutierrez makes a clearance.

85:12

Free kick taken by Ribeiro Cleiton Xavier.

85:12 Booking

Booking Jonas Gutierrez receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.