GRAEME Souness cancelled Newcastle's Christmas party in Edinburgh this week and, by grinding out a 1-1 draw with Sporting Lisbon, his players last night ensured there would be no reason for the club's fans to celebrate either.

The point might have earned top spot in Group D of the UEFA Cup, thus making sure Newcastle will avoid the likes of Valencia, Ajax and Olympiakos in today's knock-out round draw, but the uninspiring fare will have done little to dispel the air of anxiety sweeping across Tyneside.

Christmas might be just over a week away, but the fact that just 28,000 fans could be bothered to turn out for a high-profile European game says more about the current climate of gloom than the attraction of late-night shopping at Eldon Square.

Newcastle's supporters do not choose Fenwicks over football, nor do they tolerate a dreadful home record that has now seen the Magpies fail to win at St James' Park in the six games since last month's 2-0 win over Dinamo Tbilisi.

Those that turned out yesterday saw the Magpies take an early lead for the second game in a row, with Craig Bellamy grabbing his tenth goal of the season with a deft fifth-minute header.

But just as they had failed to capitalise on a similar advantage last weekend, so Newcastle rapidly lost their way again, allowing Custodio to grab a first-half equaliser for their Portuguese visitors.

A dour second half saw United complete the job but, with games against Liverpool and Arsenal still to come this year, Souness' side will have to improve significantly if the New Year festivities are not to be as muted as the club's Christmas celebrations.

While Wednesday night's win over Partizan Belgrade underlined the strength of Middlesbrough's squad, last night's clash with Sporting underlined just how stretched resources currently are on Tyneside.

When Souness first arrived at St James' Park, he raved about the "fantastic squad" he was inheriting from Sir Bobby Robson. Last night he didn't even have enough players to fill the substitutes' bench.

Kieron Dyer became the latest addition to the ever-increasing injury list when he damaged his hamstring in training earlier this week, forcing Souness to play wantaway full-back Olivier Bernard in an unorthodox midfield berth.

Bellamy partnered Shola Ameobi in the continued absence of both Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert.

While the pair had struggled to strike up any kind of an understanding against Portsmouth last weekend, they combined to devastating effect in the first five minutes of last night's game.

Titus Bramble pumped a hopeful long ball out of defence and, after Ameobi had won the knockdown on the edge of the box, Bellamy stole in past Roberto Beto to loop a precise header of his own beyond a helpless Ricardo.

The move was reminiscent of the type of goal Newcastle were scoring at will last season and, if Shearer is to hang up his boots in May, Ameobi's aerial ability will come under increased scrutiny.

The 23-year-old starts most challenges with a height advantage, but all too often that counts for little against a more committed opponent.

If he is to lead the United line next term, Ameobi will have to win more headers like the cushioned effort that teed up his strike partner.

Similarly, Bellamy will have to show more of the composure that saw him finish the move so deftly is he is to take over Shearer's goal-scoring mantle.

He isn't always so assured - a point underlined by his glaring miss midway through the first half after James Milner had sent him scampering clear of the Sporting defence.

With nobody within ten yards of him, Bellamy had far too much time to ponder his options. While Shearer would almost certainly have picked his spot in the corner, the Welshman drove a tame shot against Ricardo's legs.

While Bellamy's pace enabled him to run riot behind the Sporting defence, Newcastle's major problem came in front of their own back four.

With Nicky Butt and Lee Bowyer both absent, Fabio Rochemback was able to do as he liked behind the front two and the Brazilian midfielder sounded two warning notes from distance before helping his side achieve parity six minutes before the break.

Aaron Hughes felled Martinho Paito as tempers became frayed, and Custodio out-jumped Jermaine Jenas to nod home Rochemback's cross from close range.

Bellamy missed an almost identical chance shortly afterwards, glancing Milner's free-kick wide of the target.

But with defence, midfield and attack effectively existing as three separate entities all evening, Newcastle lacked any real cohesion in their attacking play.

Milner and Darren Ambrose were willing enough workers, but neither was able to support United's front two on a regular basis and, consequently, much of the home side's attacking play was both pedestrian and predictable.

Sporting were no more adventurous themselves, although Liedson might well have won a 65th-minute penalty after being caught by Bernard had he not leapt so theatrically into the air and spent the rest of the game rolling around on the ground.

Lewis Guy made his senior debut with 11 minutes left. But while he will never forget last night's events, it's a fair guess that everybody else will.

Result: Newcastle United 1 Sporting Lisbon 1.

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