The night Drogba came alive to finish off Newcastle hopes

WHEN Newcastle United line up inside the Stade Velodrome for their Champions League meeting against Marseille this evening, it will evoke some painful memories from 21 years ago.

- By SEAN MCCORMACK Football writer [e-mail]

Woodgate up against Drogba at St James' Park

Their last visit to the home of their French opponents came back in May 2004, when Sir Bobby Robson took an injury depleted Newcastle side into the second leg of their UEFA Cup semifinal.

Having beaten NAC Breda, Basel, Valerenga, Real Mallorca and PSV Eindhoven en route to the last four, Newcastle headed to the south of France knowing they had to win or grab a score draw to advance to the final after the first leg finished 0-0 at St James' Park.

Having challenged at the top of the Premier League table in each of the past two seasons, it felt like a golden opportunity to cap off the Robson era with a trophy.

Newcastle were missing Jonathan Woodgate, Craig Bellamy, Jermaine Jenas and Kieron Dyer through injury and were put to the sword by Didier Drogba - who moved to Chelsea that summer - as his two goals secured a 2-0 win for the hosts that booked their place in the final where they were beaten by Valencia.

For Newcastle, it was a heartbreaking end to a magical European run and the sense of an opportunity missed.

"It would have been fantastic to go all the way," Aaron Hughes, who played in that semifinal, told The Chronicle.

"It is not so much a regret but it is something I felt like it would have been great to do. It is the one thing I didn't get to do at the club, to lift a trophy.