Positive start but United left with work to do after defeat in Marseille

NEWCASTLE United fizzled out at the Veldrome on a night of fireworks in the south of France - but it could have been very different with cooler heads.

- By LEE RYDER

This defeat leaves the Magpies with work to do to clinch that last 16 spot in the Champions League but most crucially, means Eddie Howe will be unable to rest key players in the build up to the Wear-Tyne derby.

Had Newcastle held on to the lead given to them by Harvey Barnes, Newcastle would have had one hand on that knockout round place.

Marseille fans celebrated this win with bangers, fireworks and flares as the Velodrome rocked with noise.

And unfortunately, Newcastle melted in it as they were served a valuable lesson by 36-year-old Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Magpies made a positive start to the game and won a corner after 90 seconds, but after Sandro Tonali’s set-play was headed down by Harvey Barnes, Bruno Guimaraes saw his shot blocked.

Moments later, Marseille skipper Leonardi Balerdi was booked for upending Joe Willock to hand Newcastle a free-kick on the right.

Tonali swirled the free-kick into the danger area, and Malick Thiaw managed to loop the ball at goal with a powerful header, but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg headed off the line with Anthony Gordon lurking.

However, Newcastle stunned the fanatical home fans by having the audacity to take the lead!