Newcastle United: Newcastle 1 Panionios 0

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness kept his praise for skipper Alan Shearer short and to the point after seeing him clinch UEFA Cup victory in Athens with a last-gasp penalty.

The 34-year-old did not flinch after being presented with an 87th-minute chance to defeat Panionios and open his side's Group D campaign with three points when substitute Shola Ameobi was felled by defender Grigoris Makos inside the box.

Referee Roberto Rosetti had little hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Shearer slammed the ball high to keeper Sorin Colceag's right to settle the game.

"He's a big boy," Souness said. "He's used to pressure situations."

It was indeed a pressure situation after the Magpies recovered from an ordinary start to dominate the final half-hour but squandered chance after chance as the Greeks sat back and soaked up the pressure.

However, Souness was delighted with the way his players remained patient on a difficult pitch and against negative tactics to claim the points.

Sportinglife