ALAN SHEARER chose an opportune moment to attend his first match at St James’ Park since retiring as a player. After seeing Obafemi Martins, Newcastle United’s new £10 million striker and his effective replacement, accept the acclaim of a gleeful crowd, Shearer — now a club ambassador and supporter — watched his former team-mates secure their passage into the first round proper of the Uefa Cup last night.

Newcastle were not destructive and Shearer will have been licking his lips as he perched in his private box; even at 36 and with creaking knees, the former England captain would have backed himself to transform myriad chances into goals. The lack of penetration would have been alarming had Martins not earlier flown into Tyneside to complete the formalities of his protracted transfer from Inter Milan.

As it is, Glenn Roeder warrants enormous credit for the 12-game unbeaten run, in all competitions, that initially lifted Newcastle into the Intertoto Cup and now offers them serious European competition. His appointment as manager may not have been greeted with delirium and supporters rarely chant his name, but the erstwhile caretaker is presiding quietly over a revolution.

Roeder’s achievement is remarkable given that an injury-ravaged club was flirting with relegation when Graeme Souness was dismissed in February. The sensation is unusual, but Newcastle appear to be embracing stability and while this performance could not have enthralled Shearer, Martins or their 30,496 fellow spectators, they will have recognised its professionalism.

“Things weren’t looking too rosy back in February and at 14th in the table, not too many of us were thinking about Europe,” Roeder said. “We had other things on our minds. Having got through tonight, it’s vital we get through the next round and into the group stage. That’s an absolute must for Newcastle, the club, the supporters and the players.”

With only six intrepid fans backing them from the stands, FK Ventspils possessed neither the support nor the demeanour of a side expecting an upset and, in the absence of Shay Given in goal, they did not provide Steve Harper with a single opportunity to shine. Requiring a goal to restore them to parity after Newcastle’s 1-0 victory in Riga, the Latvians were reluctant to sortie into enemy territory.

That the aggregate scoreline remained unaltered was further proof of why Roeder and Freddy Shepherd, the chairman, had deliberated so long before converting their pursuit of Martins into a signature on a five-year contract; their choice matters. Albert Luque and James Milner, neither of whom could be regarded as centre forwards, formed a lightweight attack. Milner, fresh from his loan spell at Aston Villa last season, was lively, as was Charles N’Zogbia on the left wing — Damien Duff was stationed on the right — but while the build-up play was often sharp, chances were either struck from long range or lacked composure. Milner’s second-half free kick, which struck the woodwork, was a rare highlight.

Roeder expressed his delight at Martins’s arrival. Other new recruits should follow and Newcastle have a longstanding interest in Wayne Bridge, Robert Huth and Thomas Gravesen. “I would expect another couple of signings,” Roeder said.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): S Harper — S Carr, S Taylor, T Bramble, C Babayaro — D Duff, S Parker, E Belözoglu, C N’Zogbia — A Luque, J Milner. Substitutes not used: T Krul, N Solano, N Butt, P Ramage, P Huntington, M Pattison, A O’Brien.

FK VENTSPILS (3-5-2): A Vanins — D Kacanovs, J-P Ndeki, K Gorkss — I Pokarynin, M Zizilevs, V Vukovic, Z Dubenskiy, D Bicka — V Kolesnicenko (sub: J Kosmacovs, 86min), V Rimkus (sub: I Stukalinas, 90). Substitutes not used: P Davidovs, A Soleicuks, D Sokolskis, A Goncars, A Lazdins. Booked: Pokarynin.

Referee: T Einwaller (Austria).

• Gretna, last season’s Scottish Cup finalists, drew 2-2 in the second leg of their Uefa Cup qualifying tie away to Derry City but the Irish side won 7-2 on aggregate. Drogheda United, another Irish team, lost 11-10 in a marathon penalty shoot-out at home to IK Start, of Norway, after a 1-1 draw on aggregate. Llanelli’s hopes were ended by a 5-1 home defeat by Odense, the Danish club.