Eintracht Frankfurt 0, Newcastle United 0.

IN a city renowned for its skyscrapers, Newcastle had two defensive giants of their own to thank for ensuring they finish top of their UEFA Cup group, and so avoid a Champions League side when the last 32 draw is made in a fortnight.

Titus Bramble and Steven Taylor had one of their busiest nights in Europe and, despite the home side constantly creating chances, they never flinched from the task of keeping Frankfurt out at the Commerzbank-Arena last night.

They were ably supported by defensive midfielder Nicky Butt who was outstanding and goalkeeper Shay Given.

Taylor even had wounds to show for his efforts after Ioannis Amanatidis trampled all over him in the opening half.

There were several late scares after Emre spurned the Magpies best chance in the 80th minute, with Naohiro Takahara and Benjamin Kohler both guilty of failing to find the target when presented with great scoring opportunities.

The clean sheet was Newcastle's sixth in their last ten games, and Glenn Roeder's much-maligned defence is, on current form, one of the best in English football.

Roeder's threat to blood some of his young Academy players from the start never materialised as he stuck to his more experienced players, with Albert Luque on the left of a five-man midfield.

Luque had a dreadful game and was hauled off after an hour to be replaced by Obafemi Martins.

Newcastle fans were greeted by a raucous home support whose pre-match tradition included roaring out all the surnames of all the players as they were announced.

If that was upsetting to the ears, their habit of jumping up and down to give the appearance of a wave machine was a little more disconcerting to the eyes.

The away support had something of their own to cheer as early as the third minute when Emre's free-kick was smartly headed down by Titus Bramble in the box, but there were no Newcastle players arriving in the box to take advantage.

Shortly afterwards it took great defending by Bramble and Steven Taylor at the other end to deny Amanatidis and Albert Streit in quick succession - both players throwing their bodies in front of goalbound efforts.

Two successive corners then almost caught Roeder's side out with Antoine Sibierski coming to the rescue before Markus Weissenberger allowed the ball to cannon tamely off his legs when unmarked eight yards out.

James Milner was attempting to make Frankfurt left back Christoph Spycher the latest in a long line of defenders embarrassed by his ability to get past his marker with two great balls delivered, but both just too high for Luque.

Given was called into action in the 18th minute saving with his legs from Amanatidis' header after good work down the right from Weissenberger.

Frankfurt were pushing Newcastle back and midway though the opening half Weissenberger produced two more excellent crosses wasted by Streit and Amanatidis, both players sending headers wide of Given's goal.

Frankfurt captain Weissenberger was proving a real threat in what appeared to be a free role in midfield.

On the half-hour he played in Amanatidis on the edge of the box, the striker holding off Taylor before shooting over Given's bar.

Newcastle were coming under sustained pressure and Nolberto Solano became the first player in referee Pedro Proenca's book in the 35th minute for hacking down Takahara.

Streit's free-kick from an acute angle was missed by two Newcastle defenders, but thankfully it was straight at Given.

There then followed a farcical five minutes with Streit booked for complaining about a foul by Emre, Amanatidis carded for a foul on Taylor and then Taylor himself cautioned for coming back on to the pitch without permission.

The match official appeared to be losing the plot slightly, with Taylor forced off to remove a shirt torn when Amanatidis decided to drag his studs down the 20-year-old's back.

His apparent naivety saw him race back on - probably for a few choice words with Amanatidis - only to be greeted with a yellow card for returning to the fray without permission.

Emre then had Newcastle's best chance of the opening half after Spycher fouled Luque on the edge of the area.

The Turkey international's free-kick effort after exchanging passes with Solano flying just past the post.

The Magpies were under the cosh again at the start of the second period, and an appalling double miss from Amanatidis and Streit kept the scores level four minutes after the restart.

Takahara's super cross from the right was perfect for Amanatidis six yards out, but he completely missed the ball with his head and Streit also missed the ball at the back post.

Somehow Newcastle were still level and Streit then screwed an effort wide under pressure from Charles N'Zogbia after Takahara set him up in the box.

Roeder had seen enough of Luque by this point and just before the hour mark Martins replaced the Spaniard.

Another hour wasted on the pitch by the £9.5m man.

The change almost brought instant results for Newcastle with Martins delivering a great cross straight onto the head of Sibierski.

His effort had Proll beaten only for the retreating Sotorios Kyrgiakos to clear the ball from virtually under his own crossbar.

A temporary lull in the constant wave of Frankfurt attacks saw normal service resumed in the 62nd minute with Amanatidis forcing Given to save comfortably low to his left.

With the clock running down Frankfurt were running out of ideas.

Amanatidis warmed Given's hands again, but the home side's UEFA Cup campaign was struggling to stay on course.

Newcastle's, however, was going from strength to strength.

Kohler sent a header wide in the 79th minute from Weissenberger's free-kick and Emre brought a fine save from Proll with N'Zogbia sending the rebound over.