SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night warned Newcastle United's goal-shy "warriors" to rediscover their shooting boots or risk a disastrous third cup exit in as many months.

Robson knows defeat to Basel, the Swiss League's runaway leaders, here this evening would send shockwaves reverberating through Newcastle - who have already been dumped out of the Champions League and Carling Cup this season.

A succession of missed chances cost the Magpies dear against Partizan Belgrade in August and then again when they lost to West Bromwich Albion last week.

Now, with the injured Kieron Dyer left on Tyneside when the squad flew into Basel yesterday, Newcastle manager Robson is desperate for Alan Shearer and co to hit the goal trail at St Jakobs Park.

He said: "I've spoken to the players and said, 'It's only November and we've been knocked out of two cup competitions - we can't go out of the UEFA Cup.'

"I'm going to go with experienced players and I want their mental toughness and their footballing ability to shine through to make sure this club stays in Europe.

"I'll do my bit and the chairman is supporting us all the way. It's time now for the players to deliver, they know that and they accept that.

"We've played some outstanding football recently, but we just haven't been able to put the ball past the keeper.

"Against Aston Villa and West Brom last week we had enough chances to win four games, and we should have beaten Partizan: we missed three big chances then.

"All that's missing from our game is goals and our players have to be responsible for it.

"It's the difference between getting on the green in two and holing your first putt as opposed to taking four putts."

Shearer backed up Robson's belief that Newcastle, who visit Chelsea on Sunday, cannot countenance another dose of cup misery in this pretty Swiss city.

He said: "This is a massive week for us and a huge European tie for the club. We simply can't afford to go out of two competitions in a week.

"We've got to hang on in the UEFA Cup and stay in it. It's vitally important for this football club and I promise the players are aware of that."

Robson does not expect the Swiss to roll over tonight after victories against Celtic and Juventus last season.

Basel, coached by former Tottenham Hotspur manager Christian Gross, also edged Liverpool out of the Champions League this time last year.

They lead their domestic League by 12 points, having won 15 and drawn one of their 16 matches, and are unbeaten in domestic competitions since April 27 - a 25-game run.

Robson said: "We've seen Basel three times and they're very impressive; we've got good reports on them and we've got a difficult match on our hands.

"We know Basel's players and we know their style. They have a tricky guy (Hakan Yakin) who plays in a hole behind the two strikers. But we won't change the way we play. We believe in our system and think we can handle this guy.

"The set-plays are going to be difficult because they put six men in the box and launch the ball in there. We've talked about that and we've practised defending against it.

"In Andy O'Brien, Titus Bramble, Aaron Hughes, Jermaine Jenas, Gary Speed, Shola Ameobi and Alan Shearer, we've got ourselves some warriors who we hope can deal with it."

Shearer added: "Maybe Basel's League isn't as tough across the board as the Premiership but we've still got to come out here and give a top-class performance.

"We'll have to be at our best because their confidence will be sky-high, and Christian Gross will know from his time at Spurs not to take us lightly."

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