HE might preside over a squad that is short of strikers, but Glenn Roeder last night hailed Titus Bramble as Newcastle's latest goalscoring hero after the defender's second-half header earned a 1-0 win over FK Ventspils.

Bramble's 71st-minute strike from Damien Duff's corner ensured the Magpies would go into this month's UEFA Cup second qualifying-round second-leg with a crucial away goal.

And after the defender also scored Newcastle's winner over Chelsea on the final day of last season - a goal that booked the club's European place - Roeder was quick to highlight Bramble's qualities in the final third.

"Titus has chipped in with a few goals over the last few months," said the Magpies manager, who is closing in on the signature of Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen.

"None more important than the one against Chelsea that got us into Europe in the first place.

"Now he has scored another vital goal that, without doubt, gives us a big advantage in the return leg. The goal he scored was a tremendous header, he angled it away from the keeper and gave him no chance whatsoever."

Crucially, Bramble also recovered from a shaky start to produce a solid defensive performance in the face of some spirited Ventspils attacking.

The Latvians enjoyed plenty of possession, but rarely looked like threatening Shay Given after a fifth-minute scare that saw the Irishman save at the feet of Igors Slesarcuks.

With the experienced Craig Moore shepherding his every move, Bramble made few of the unnecessary aberrations that have blighted him in the past.

And with the purchase of an additional defender extremely unlikely given Newcastle's need for new recruits in other areas, Roeder is confident the former Ipswich centre-half can find a new level of consistency this season.

"They (Ventspils) asked questions of both Titus and Craig," he said. "But overall I thought they dealt with them very well.

"The things I am trying to stress to Titus are the quality of his passing and his concentration. They are parts of his game I am forever talking to him about. I want to make sure he concentrates for the full 90 minutes.

"He is a player who needs to know he has the support of us all to go out and play well."

Last night's victory means that Newcastle will take a seemingly unassailable advantage into the second leg at St James' Park on August 24.

But Roeder will be taking nothing for granted, even if he has completed the "two or three signings" he insists are imminent by the time Ventspils travel to Tyneside.

"We must make sure the players are not too relaxed, that they don't think they can take it easy in the second leg," said Roeder.

"As we have seen, Ventspils have some good players and we must make sure we are just as motivated for the game at St James' Park as we were for this one.

"I'm pleased to have got through, but we know the Premiership season is starting in a week. Going into four competitions, we know we need to add numbers and quality to the squad.

"Every day we are getting closer. I know it seems an awful long way but we are getting closer to making two or three signings."