A JUBILANT Graeme Souness felt his players passed their toughest European test last night by thrashing Sochaux 4-0 to book their place in the UEFA Cup's knockout phase.

The comprehensive victory - United's first on French soil - leaves the Magpies firm favourites to top Group D as they look to better last season's run to the semi-finals of the competition.

A largely inexperienced side held their own as Sochaux started brightly, before cutting loose.

And, while Souness accepts there is still a long to way to go in this season's competition, he was understandably delighted at the emphatic manner of the success.

"We're in a fantastic position now," said the Newcastle boss, who has guided his side to five successive wins in this season's UEFA Cup. "We saw this as our hardest game in the group phase of the competition, but we've come through it and got a great result.

"It's hard to single anyone out. They all played their part and it's hard to be critical of any of them.

"We've come away and beaten a team who are third in their domestic championship. French football is strong, and this is a bloody good result. I've got to be delighted with everything. In the end, we could have had even more than the four goals with the chances we've wasted in the last few minutes.

"On paper, it wasn't our strongest team, but they've given me some selection problems."

Souness opted to rest a number of his leading lights but, after Lee Bowyer's goal edged a tight opening period, the visitors ran riot in a one-sided second half.

Shola Ameobi doubled Newcastle's lead with his tenth European goal for the Magpies, before Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert gave the scoreline a lopsided look.

"I think we rode our luck at times and we were maybe a wee bit lucky to be going in 1-0 up at half-time," admitted Souness.

"But we had some young players out there in the wide areas and, in the second half, we managed to get across to them what we wanted them to do. We became harder to play against and, obviously, scoring the goal was a great way to start the second half.

"The win sets us up very nicely, but we will now forget about this because we have to concentrate on Sunday's game against Everton."

With four goals going into the Sochaux net, it was ironic that some of Newcastle's best performances came at the other end.

Shay Given made three wonderful saves to keep the scoresheet blank, while the often-maligned Titus Bramble silenced the lively Ilan with a mixture of power and poise.

"Shay was outstanding in the first half," said Souness. "We were under a bit of pressure, but Shay's a top goalkeeper and he proved that. I've got to mention Titus as well. He's not put one foot wrong and, along with Robbie Elliott as captain, he was outstanding.

"If we can get him (Bramble) focused like that every game he would be playing for England, but he obviously finds that difficult and that's why he's not playing for his country."

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