ONE of Kevin Keegan's biggest regrets about his time at Newcastle is that, despite leading the club to second in the Premiership, he never got to manage them in the Champions League.

United's reward for finishing as runners-up in the 1995-96 season was a place in the UEFA Cup and, by steering his current Manchester City side to a deserved 1-0 win over the Magpies, Keegan has gone a long way towards ensuring that competition will be the limit of Newcastle's ambition again next season.

A Champions League spot is still not out of the question with three games to play but, unless things improve dramatically from another dismal away day at the City of Manchester Stadium, Newcastle's homesickness could yet see them miss out on European football altogether.

A gloomy prognosis but, for a side who have now failed to win a Premiership away game since October 21, probably a fair one.

This latest setback means Newcastle have still only won twice on the road all season - a shocking record that is bettered by both Leeds and Leicester.

They might have secured three creditable away wins in the UEFA Cup, but they have failed to beat all of the Premiership bottom eight on their travels and defeat to a City side, who had won just three previous home games, was as predictable as it was painful.

"It's happened far too often this season," admitted a downbeat Sir Bobby Robson. "We've been poor away from home.

"Last season we won nine on the road. This season - just two and it could cost us dearly. We've talked about it, asked the players to work hard and tried to pinpoint the reasons why, but it just hasn't happened.

"We gave a reasonable performance in the first half, but I didn't like us in the second half at all. We never even looked like we could create a chance."

Yet another wasted journey was bad enough, but the manner in which Newcastle helped to confirm City's Premiership status was also grimly familiar.

A bright opening culminated in missed chances that should have seen the Magpies claim a half-time lead but, after the break, the visitors dropped out of the game entirely in a display that lacked both style and substance.

The vibrancy that characterised last weekend's thrilling 2-1 win over Chelsea was conspicuous only by its absence and, with the likes of Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy and Jermaine Jenas missing through injury, United's attacking understudies fluffed their lines when asked to take centre stage.

Hugo Viana was infuriatingly indifferent as he was hustled and harried out of the game, Darren Ambrose failed to offer anything out of the ordinary and, after his explosive strike last weekend, Shola Ameobi passed up Newcastle's best chance of breaching the City defence.

Laurent Robert showed off all of his skill with a sublime 23rd-minute dribble down the left, but his only meaningful run after that was his trot to the bench after picking up a knock some 50 minutes later.

In contrast, Manchester City belied their treacherous position close to the foot of the table by showing more adventure than their surprisingly subdued opponents.

They possessed the most dangerous player on display in Shaun Wright-Phillips, and both Paulo Wanchope and Nicolas Anelka exerted more influence on proceedings than either Ameobi or Alan Shearer.

It didn't look like turning out that way when Titus Bramble brought an instinctive first-minute save out of David James following Robert's driven free-kick and, for much of the first half, Newcastle shaded things in terms of both possession and chances.

Bramble's header forced Sylvain Distin into a routine goalline clearance and Ameobi only narrowly failed to reach Robert's low centre after his searing surge past both Joey Barton and Sun Jihai.

James showed why he is Sven Goran Eriksson's first-choice keeper for Euro 2004 with an excellent low parry to prevent Ameobi breaking the deadlock in the 26th minute, although the Newcastle striker played into his hands by failing to direct Shearer's flick on towards either corner of the net.

Ambrose also brought a smart stop out of James after an intelligent one-two with Ameobi but, at the other end, Andy O'Brien was forced into the first of a number of crucial interceptions to thwart the onrushing Anelka.

Paul Bosvelt served notice of City's second-half intent with a flashing 53rd-minute drive and, six minutes later, Wanchope and Anelka combined to fire the home side in front.

The Frenchman skipped away from Bramble on the right touchline, and Wanchope stole in behind O'Brien to plant an unstoppable header past Shay Given.

The Magpies still have to go to Southampton before travelling to Anfield for what looks like being a Champions League decider against Liverpool.

They will almost certainly have to win both. Two away wins from 17 is not a statistic that breeds confidence.

Result: Manchester City 1 Newcastle United 0.

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