NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson has offered a brutally honest assessment of a bitterly disappointing season.

"We're not happy with our position - we're way below where we thought we'd be this time last season,'' said Robson.

United lie 11th in the Premiership, exactly where they finished a year ago.

The loss of the likes of skipper Alan Shearer and Kieron Dyer through serious injuries has hit United hard in a campaign which began with high hopes of a place in Europe.

But with two games to go, at home to Arsenal and Aston Villa, even a Euro spot via the Intertoto Cup is beyond the Magpies' reach.

Seventh-placed rivals Sunderland have been confirmed as North-East top dogs for a second successive season.

Robson added: "The players are angry with the situation. We're not satisfied. We know everybody in the area wanted us to chase Sunderland.''

Meanwhile, United goalkeeper Shay Given yesterday underwent an operation to reset his nose, which he broke last week in the 1-1 draw with Southampton at St. James' Park.

United, however, are hopeful that the Republic of Ireland international will be fit to face Arsenal in a rearranged game next Tuesday.

* Following the nightmare of facing the lethal finishing of Michael Owen at the weekend Newcastle returned to winning ways in a testimonial for West Bromwich Albion's Daryl Burgess in the Midlands last night, writes JACK LESLIE.

Their match winner on this low key occasion was Daniel Cordone who scored two smartly taken goals for a Newcastle side which never had to get out of second gear.

If only Cordone had been able to show the same kind of finishing he displayed against West Bromwich, the Argentinian might not now be on the verge of leaving the Magpies.

But he has failed the acid test of the Premiership, as there is a world of difference between the top flight and the standard produced by First Division West Brom.

Cordone's pace and trickery exposed a West Bromwich side which will be attempting to take a positive step towards the Premiership next season on Sunday in the First Division play-offs against Bolton.

With Cordone grabbing two goals and his fellow countryman, Christian Bassedas, also on the mark, the 3-0 result proved a good work out for Newcastle in preparation for their final two games of the season when they face Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Albion were way below Newcastle's class and it proved to be an easy exercise for the Magpies.

Cordone put Newcastle in the driving seat as early as the ninth minute collecting a through ball from Warren Barton and cleverly working his way past Des Lyttle and Tony Butler before driving a low left foot shot into the far corner.

As a result of the goal Newcastle never had to increase the tempo and notched their second goal when Bassedas headed home a Diego Gavilan produced cross.

Cordone, enjoying the freedom of a slack marking defence, notched Newcastle's third in the 48th minute.

NEWCASTLE: Harper (Karelse 64); Barton (S.Caldwell 46), O'Brien (McClen 61), Bassedas, Speed (G. Caldwell 61), Quinn, Solano (Gavilan 27), Cort (Ameobi 69), Cordone (Lua Lua 81), Hughes, Glass.

Attendance: 4,440.