Different season, same old Newcastle. The Magpies' first pre-season game on English soil brought the usual mixture of slick attacking and sloppy defending last night as they went down 2-1 to Ipswich in Dale Roberts' testimonial match at Portman Road.

Fielding a starting XI that contained no summer signings, Sir Bobby Robson's side produced an away performance eerily reminiscent of many of the displays that contributed to their disappointing fifth-place finish last season.

Chances came and went at one end while mistakes were punished at the other and, while the addition of the combative Nicky Butt should ensure Newcastle have more bite when they kick-off the new Premiership season at the Riverside on August 14, Robson's summer rebuilding work looks far from complete.

The United boss has been on the look-out for defensive re-inforcements all summer but, with Portuguese full-back Miguel still looking to be out of the Magpies' price range, he was forced to name the same backline that played for much of last season.

And Newcastle's age-old defensive frailties were in evidence after just 17 seconds as Aaron Hughes and Titus Bramble failed to clear their lines, allowing Shefki Kuqi to fire straight at Shay Given from the edge of the area.

The Republic of Ireland international had little difficulty parrying that away, but he was helpless six minutes later as Ipswich fashioned a superb opener.

Former Hartlepool midfielder Tommy Miller started the move and, when the lifelong Sunderland fan fed Dean Bawditch on the left flank, the 18-year-old showed commendable composure to pick out the unmarked Kuqi on the edge of the six-yard box.

The Finnish international made no mistake from close range and, while Robson will hope to have Jonathan Woodgate available for the start of the season, he will have been alarmed to have seen two of his leading centre-halves sliced open so easily. They were left similarly exposed as Kuqi twice went close to adding a second midway through the second half, sneaking in front of first Andy O'Brien and then Olivier Bernard at the heart of the 18-yard box.

Defensive dilemmas are nothing new of course, but Robson could also have selection headaches at the other end of the field if last night's game is anything to go by.

Alan Shearer was his usual dominant self and could easily have had a hat-trick before the interval, such was his dominance of Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos in the air.

The United skipper headed wide from Laurent Robert's left-wing corner, directed Lee Bowyer's whipped cross too close to Kelvin Davis, then watched the Ipswich goalkeeper produce a fine full-stretch save to turn a third header wide of the post.

Craig Bellamy also went close with a firm header that rattled against the left-hand upright and, in the absence of new signing Patrick Kluivert, the Wales international took his chance to remind Robson of just what he has to offer.

His pacy, direct running caused no end of problems to the Ipswich defence and, even in the supposedly serene environment of a testimonial, his constant haranguing of team-mates and opponents alike provided the competitive edge that lifted Newcastle back on to level terms.

He might have been pulled out of United's pre-season tour of the Far East with his latest knee problems, but there was no sign of any discomfort as he galloped down the right flank before crossing for the on-rushing Robert to head home from close range five minutes before half-time.

Bellamy missed large chunks of last season with a succession of knee and hamstring injuries and there were fears that the 25-year-old might have missed the opening weeks of this campaign.

But, after enjoying a 62-minute run out last night, the former Norwich striker insisted that he was back to his best.

"I'm in great shape and all I need are a few more games to get my full match fitness back," insisted the striker, who was booed by the home fans because of his previous spell at Carrow Road.

"I came through my first game for two months without a twinge and I haven't felt so good for some time. I would say this is the fittest I've been for a good two years.

"I'm just excited to be back and excited by the prospect of the season.

"We have serious competition throughout the squad and I know full well that if I don't perform when selected then I'll be dropped."

The sight of Robert towering above full-back Drissa Diallo was strange enough, but that was nothing compared with the bizarre strike which saw Ipswich regain the lead in the 72nd minute.

Substitute Pablo Counago looked to have wasted a golden opportunity when he failed to hit Kuqi's low centre first time, but his tame strike went through the legs of both O'Brien and substitute goalkeeper Steve Harper before rolling apologetically into the back of the net.

Robert almost produced a late equaliser from nothing when his curling right-wing corner crashed against the front post, but Robson was left with more questions than answers after returning to the scene of some of his greatest triumphs.

Ipswich (4-4-2): Davis; Diallo (Counago, 55), Naylor, De Vos, Richards (Barron, 90), Horlock, Magilton (Murray, 46), Miller, Bawditch (Wilnis, 55), Bent, Kuqui.

Newcastle (4-4-2): Given (Harper 46); Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard (Elliott 77), Ambrose (Milner 62), Bowyer, Dyer, Robert, Bellamy (Ameobi 62), Shearer.

* Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reiterated his confidence that captain Patrick Vieira will stay at the club.

The France midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid and certain sections of the Spanish press are reporting he has already agreed personal terms.

However, yesterday, Real Madrid's director of sport, Emilio Butragueno, and Vieira's agent, Steve Kutner, both distanced themselves from the reports, with Butragueno describing them as ''a bit excessive''.

And, after watching Arsenal run up their fourth successive victory in their pre-season friendlies with a 2-1 against Austrians Sturm Graz, Wenger also spoke out.

''I am confident he will stay at Arsenal but I have repeated that many times and I cannot do much more,'' he said.

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