DISGUSTED Shay Given has warned Newcastle United's under-performers to shape-up or miss out on Champions League football once again next season.

After losing at Manchester City on Saturday, the Magpies are three points adrift of occupiers of the coveted fourth place Liverpool, while Aston Villa are now serious contenders after overcoming Tottenham on Sunday.

And Given, well aware that Newcastle still have a game in hand over their rivals, refused to hold back in his criticism of some of his teammates following the 1-0 defeat to struggling City.

Sir Bobby Robson's men have not won away from home in the Premiership since November and that is the major reason why a place in the Champions League has not yet been secured.

Given revealed that strong words were exchanged in the Newcastle dressing room after losing to Kevin Keegan's City.

"Manchester City had not won at home for some time and it seems that we are a soft touch," said the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper. "When anybody needs to get a result to get themselves out of a corner, along comes Newcastle United to give them a break.

"It winds me up, to be honest, and there were a few words said after the game in the dressing room.

"I won't repeat what was said, but some players know they have not performed away from home again and they don't need the senior players to tell them they have to improve.

"The fact that we have won twice away from St. James' Park in the league this season is terrible. We have two more away games in the Premiership this season and we are looking to improve on that because if we don't we will end up with nothing."

If Newcastle fail to clinch that fourth spot it will be the second year in a row that they have been unable to achieve their goal of Champions League football.

Back in August Robson's side were beaten by Partizan Belgrade in a qualifier for club football's most exclusive competition.

* Marseille boss Jose Anigo admits his club's season rests on the outcome of their UEFA Cup semi-final second leg with the Magpies.

The teams are locked at 0-0 at the halfway stage but Marseille failed to score an away goal in the first leg at St James' Park.

Anigo, who replaced the sacked Alain Perrin in January, is hoping to steer the French club to the Gothenburg final where they would play the winners of the all-Spanish tie between Valencia and Villarreal.

David Sommeil, Rudolf Skacel and Koke are all ineligible, while injured Egyptian striker Mido and out-of-favour pair Pascal Johansenn and Sebastien Perez are also not included.

There is better news for Steve Marlet and Brahim Hemdani who should both be fit for the clash with the Geordies.

Mathieu Flamini, Habib Beye, Fabio Celestini and Abdoulaye Meite are also in the squad despite recent health problems.

Anigo's assessment of the importance of the encounter was candid.

''Our entire season rests on the outcome of this match,'' he said.

Marseille did not have the ideal preparation for the visit of Newcastle when they lost at the weekend to relegation-threatened Metz.

Meanwhile, the club's star striker Didier Drogba is the toast of France at the moment after being named Player of the Year by his fellow professionals.

Ivory Coast international Drogba joined the club from Guingamp last summer and has scored 18 Ligue 1 goals and nine in European competition for the south coast outfit.

With domestic cup competitions also taken into account he has registered 30 goals for the Stade Velodrome outfit.

He has proved a talisman for his new team and also won another award for scoring the best goal of the season against Montpellier.

Drogba hopes that the award can help spur him on to achieve more with Marseille this season.

''Winning this award really does me a lot of psychological good,'' said Drogba. ''It will give me just the boost I need to finish the season well.''

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