NEWCASTLE United's slim Champions League hopes were finally extinguished at St Mary's last night when they failed to secure the three points that would have kept their dream alive for one final hurrah.

Not even dynamic midfielder Kieron Dyer's return to action and the axing of erratic French winger Laurent Robert could help to deliver the victory that would have ensured a fourth-place 'play-off' with Liverpool on Saturday.

Instead, after this 3-3 draw at Southampton, manager Sir Bobby Robson has his work cut out in trying to pick up his players in a bid to topple Aston Villa in the race for a UEFA Cup spot.

It was always thought Newcastle would have to beat Liverpool on the final day of the campaign - earning Robson his first win over the Reds in a 54 year career - for the right to play in European football's premier competition.

Instead the Magpies will go to Anfield hoping for the two necessary results that will see them overthrow fifth-placed Villa, who are one point ahead of their rivals going into their last match at home to Manchester United.

Robson, under pressure after apparent 'off-the-record' comments criticising the club's supporters were beamed around television screens at St James' Park last weekend, had his players up for the occasion.

And their adventurous performance was reminiscent of the Kevin Keegan era.

But the three goals from Shola Ameobi, Lee Bowyer and Darren Ambrose were not enough to claim the away win - their first since October - they so desperately wanted.

That was mainly down to some dreadful defending from Newcastle, who allowed James Beattie and Leandre Griffit to score, while Titus Bramble turned a Fabrice Fernandes cross into his own net.

Having never beaten the Saints on their own patch in the league since 1972, the need for Newcastle to end that bleak 17-match record had never been so important.

That is why Robson gambled on the fitness of Dyer - so instrumental in the FA Cup win at Southampton in January, when he grabbed two goals in a 3-0 win - and he came in on the left of midfield at the expense of Robert.

The Newcastle boss, nearing the end of the 'toughest season' of his managerial reign since taking over on Tyneside in 1999, finally ran out of patience with the Frenchman following his latest anaemic display against Wolves on Sunday.

Robert's comments on Wednesday suggesting he may move in the summer, after the former Paris St Germain star and Hugo Viana were booed by disaffected St James' Park fans, did not help matters, and Robson wielded the axe.

Robert's loss was Dyer's gain after finally convincing his manager that he had shrugged off the hamstring injury that sidelined him for the five games building up to last night's encounter.

The 25-year-old was clearly out to prove a point and, with an England place in this summer's Euro 2004 in mind, he started by tracking back with tricky wide-man Fabrice Fernandes - something not normally associated with the more flamboyant Robert.

But Dyer's determination could not stop Anders Svensson when he worked his way free of his marker before his left-foot shot from 20 yards was comfortably saved by Given.

The Saints seemed intent on making life difficult for their desperate opponents but it was Newcastle who gained the upper hand out of nothing after seven minutes.

A ball upfield from Olivier Bernard, hopeful more than anything, was headed skywards by Ameobi. The England Under-21 front-man out-muscled Claus Lundekvam before placing a perfect right-foot shot into young goalkeeper Alan Blayney's bottom corner.

It was an energetic opening half with both sides creating an abundance of chances. Fernandes, whose shot through a packed box was expertly stopped by Given, and Dyer, a woeful pull wide from the penalty spot, went close to finding the net before Southampton levelled.

Svensson's poorly-hit low shot from the left side of the box was only half saved by Given, when it should have been held, and Beattie was on hand to tap over the line from two yards.

Ameobi's strength was proving a handful for the Southampton rearguard and, after both Beattie and Yoann Folly had gone close for the home side, it was the Newcastle striker who created the goal that put the visitors back in front.

After bursting past two defenders down the left flank, Ameobi whipped in a cross that Robert would have been proud of and Bowyer, making a late run, pounced to drill a sweet left-footed drive past 19-year-old Blayney ten minutes before half-time.

However, in true Newcastle style, they proved to be their own worst enemy. Fernandes' dangerous cross was not dealt with properly by Steve Caldwell and the ball bounced off Bramble beyond Given, bringing back memories of his own goal at Highbury in September.

After the restart, though, Robson's men were not distracted and continued to push for the crucial winner.

But a mixture of poor fortune and expert goalkeeping combined to keep the score level.

First Caldwell, lurking at the back post, headed against the bar from Darren Ambrose's wicked free-kick from the left. And Ambrose was denied by the same piece of woodwork when he unleashed a rasping 25-yard drive goalwards.

Then Blayney, in for the injured Antti Niemi, made an exeptional stop with his left arm to turn a close-range downward Shearer header over for a corner.

Opportunities kept arriving for both sides, with Newcastle looking suspect every time the hosts broke, and substitute Griffit stroked the ball underneath Given to bring an end to Tyneside's dream of Champions League football again next season.

Note even Ambrose's late, late leveller could prevent that but it could well have gone along way towards securing a European adventure.

Result: Southampton 3 Newcastle United 3.

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