NEWCASTLE United manager Graeme Souness was delighted with the performance last night, but couldn't understand why his side failed to put a hatful of goals past a strictly average Dinamo Tbilisi.

The Magpies had to settle for just the two strikes in a game they dominated, as goals from skipper Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy sent them top of Group D.

The only thing missing from his side, according to Souness, was top class finishing.

He said: "I think we dominated the game throughout.

"We scored two but we are disappointed we didn't score more. We had many, many chances but we've only taken two.

"Our approach play was great and the only thing missing was clinical finishing which hopefully we're saving for another game.

"We were very adventurous and we could and should have scored more."

The win means the Magpies have a 100 per cent record in the UEFA Cup group stage and have yet to concede - a fact that pleased the manager.

"I think our attitude was spot on," he said. "We were ready for their challenge.

"We asked them to make sure they gave Tbilisi respect and they did just that.

"The only thing that's disappointing me is that we're only going home with a 2-0 win when it should have been much more than that.

"The next game (against Sochaux) will be a difficult game but we can put the competition out of our minds for a period of time.

"I'm a great believer that the knock-out competition excites people. Proper cup competition where you can go out if your not at it every game you play.

"That's what the public wants and hopefully we'll be in that second stage."

Souness played three of his four strikers, but Bellamy was switched to wide right with Shearer and Patrick Kluivert up front.

The only thing missing was a goal from the Dutch striker who was denied in injury time by a goal-line clearance by Mikheil Kakaladze.

"We haven't seen the best of Patrick and won't see the best of Patrick until he's played half a dozen games in rapid succession," said Souness.

"He can't be fully match fit. Last season he didn't play much football and he hasn't played that many games back to back for us.

"The difference up front is half a yard. You can create a goal, score a goal - it's that half a yard.

"Hopefully him and others are saving their goals for the next two home games which will be far harder than the one tonight."

* New Hearts head coach John Robertson made a losing start to the job as they slumped to defeat against Schalke in the UEFA Cup.

His first game in charge since taking over the Tynecastle hot-seat was always going to be difficult and that task was made even tougher when Patrick Kisnorbo was sent off early in the second half.

Hearts looked like bravely hanging on for the goalless draw until Cassio Lincoln snatched all three points for the Germans with less than 20 minutes remaining.

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