Newcastle knocked FC Basel out of the UEFA Cup - but Christian Gross' men didn't make it easy for a lacklustre United.
The visitors were the better side over the 90 minutes but couldn't find the back of the net and the fact that the Magpies' goal was scored by a Basel defender summed up the Swiss side's luck on the night.
And Sir Bobby Robson will know his side will have to play a lot better if they are to progress in the competition when it resumes in February.
Basel's night was not helped by an early injury to Marco Zwyssig, clattered by Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer with just fifteen seconds on the clock and replaced in the fifth minute.
A minute later Scott Chipperfield flashed a half volley just wide of Shay Given's left-hand post and with nine minutes on the clock Basel's Hakan Yakin should have done better, when left unmarked he headed narrowly over the crossbar from a corner.
The visitors were soon made to pay for those missed chances when substitute Boris Smiljanic poked a Laurent Robert corner into his own net in the 14th minute, with Chipperfield unable to stop it on the line.
Then Gary Speed, on his 250th United appearance, should have done better when put through by Robert, with the Wales captain shooting weakly at Pascal Zuberbuhler in the 25th minute.
Seconds later Newcastle breathed a huge sigh of relief after Given had appeared to bring down Mario Cantaluppi, but rather than point to the penalty spot the Danish referee booked the Basel midfielder for diving.
As the half drew to a close Given was called into action again, denying striker Marco Streller with a fine low save.
In the 52nd minute Yakin crashed a free-kick against the right upright from 25 yards as Basel continued to look for a way back into the game.
The Swiss league leaders thought they had finally levelled five minutes later when Juilo Rossi put the ball in the net, after Chipperfield had headed a deep cross into his path, only for the assistant to flag for offside.
As Basel's UEFA Cup hopes disappeared United grew stronger, though their final ball continued to let them down, and Robson injected some fresh legs in the shape of Nolberto Solano and Darren Ambrose in the 79th minute.
The changes almost paid instant dividends with Shearer close to making it 2-0 in a move started by Solano wide on the right.