SHAY Given provided a brutal assessment of Newcastle's current predicament by admitting: "If we don't get into Europe it will be a disaster."

Wednesday night's 1-1 draw at Manchester City left the Magpies seven points adrift of sixth place and the final European qualification spot, which is currently being filled by North-East rivals Middlesbrough.

With 13 games still to play, that gap is hardly insurmountable, although Newcastle will need to embark on a lengthy winning run if they are to haul themselves into contention by the time champions- elect Chelsea visit St James' Park on May 14.

Since moving to Tyneside in July 1997, Given has been involved in six European campaigns.

After watching his side throw away yet another winning position at the City of Manchester Stadium, the shot-stopper has admitted that the prospect of missing out on a seventh is too painful to contemplate.

"It would be a huge disappointment not to qualify for Europe," said the Republic of Ireland international. "We started off the season hoping to get into the Champions League again.

"That looks a long way away now and, if we don't qualify for Europe at all this season, that will be a bit of a disaster. But we haven't done well enough so far, and we haven't deserved that yet.

"I haven't looked at the table too closely, but we need to go on a bit of run. We are finding it difficult to get a run of victories going, but you only have to look at Bolton to see what's possible.

"They've just won six on the trot after a really bad slump. We need to do exactly that, because you're talking about 18 points and that would get us right back up there."

Given was powerless to prevent two more points slipping away on Wednesday after Titus Bramble's rash challenge on Shaun Wright-Phillips allowed Robbie Fowler to roll home a second-half spot-kick.

The Irishman was otherwise redundant though, as City's dearth of attacking options mirrored Newcastle's lack of a goalscoring threat.

The result was a largely uninspiring encounter but, while Newcastle's fans are famed for their love of attacking flair, Given has warned them that they may have to accept some more mundane fare as Graeme Souness attempts to steady the ship.

With the United boss desperate to cut out the defensive mistakes that crippled the Magpies in the first half of the season, a degree of adventure will have to be sacrificed in the name of precaution.

"It's a difficult one to balance up," admitted Given. "A point is never a bad result away from home but, when you are ahead, it is disappointing.

"I didn't have too many saves to make, and neither did David James, so it probably wasn't the best of games to watch.

"But we kept it tight at the back, other than giving them the one chance for the goal, and that's important.

"The fans love to see goals and attacking football, but we conceded too many goals in the first half of the season and, now that we've tightened up at the back, we're conceding a lot less. It's a balance you've got to get right."

The next test of United's resolve will come tomorrow, when a resurgent Charlton visit Tyneside hoping to bounce back from Tuesday night's defeat to Liverpool.

Given has admitted to a grudging respect for Charlton's ability to survive in the top-flight.

But the 28-year-old sees tomorrow's game as one his side must be looking to win.

"Charlton surprise me every season with how well they do," he said. "Every week they seem to be grinding it out and digging out 1-0 wins.

"Alan Curbishley has not had a lot of money to spend, yet they are always there in the top half of the table. We can't look at Saturday as an easy game, but it's one that we have to win."

l Terry McDermott has revealed that Craig Bellamy's parting shot to his former team-mates was an expletive-filled rant sent to a senior Newcastle player on the day he joined Celtic.

McDermott, who re-joined United's coaching staff last week, has been fully supportive of Graeme Souness' decision to axe Bellamy from his first-team squad.

After canvassing the views of other senior players at the club, the former Liverpool midfielder feels the 25-year-old should never be allowed to play for Newcastle again.

"I know from personal experience of a voicemail message he sent a senior player at this club," said McDermott. "I was playing golf with him when he received it.

"That message alone should mean that Craig Bellamy never plays here again.

"If the fans knew the content they would not take a blind bit of notice of what he has said. You cannot have one player thinking he can run a football club.

"I have no axe to grind with Craig Bellamy - I've never met him and he's done me no personal harm - but, in the six days since I've re-joined the club, what I've heard means I don't want to meet the guy."

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