NEWCASTLE banished the ghost of their catastrophic Champions League knockout here in August at the hands of Partizan Belgrade, to clinch a UEFA Cup semi-final date with Marseille after another night of high anxiety at St. James' Park.

Midfielder Gary Speed grabbed the goal that guaranteed progress for Sir Bobby Robson's side, who entertain the French giants in the first leg a week tonight.

Robson had betrayed his apprehension on the eve of this quarter-final second-leg by warning his players that they were sitting on a "timebomb''.

And skipper Alan Shearer ensured an explosive start in the ninth minute when he beat marker Wilfred Bouma and keeper Ronald Waterreus to Laurent Robert's inswinging right-wing corner to gleefully glance in at the near post.

It was Shearer's sixth goal in Europe this season, 27th of the campaign and ninth for United in the competition, one behind Wyn Davies' club best established in the old Fairs Cup.

But Newcastle paid dearly for missed chances and feckless defending when PSV hit back via a 52nd-minute penalty by Serbian hot-shot Mateja Kezman.

Winger Darren Ambrose lost possession to Young-Pyo Lee and when the left-back centred across goal, Olivier Bernard was too casual as he brought the ball down on his chest.

Lee's South Korea teammate Ji-Sung Park pounced on the loose ball and Bernard felled the winger on the corner of the 18-yard box in an attempt to retrieve the situation.

Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and Kezman stepped up to beat the committed Shay Given to claim his 28th goal of the season.

But Speed's fourth this term, and first in Europe, eased the nerves of the Geordie faithful.

Again it was a right-wing corner from Robert that did the trick, and Speed's aerial prowess proved too much for PSV as Waterreus missed his punch and the Welshman headed in.

With Kieron Dyer still short of full fitness because of a hamstring injury, Robson kept faith with the side that had forced a draw at the Philips Stadion six days earlier.

That meant Titus Bramble, who escaped censure from UEFA following the clash that floored PSV midfielder Remco van der Schaaf, was back in the centre of defence instead of Andy O'Brien after being left out of Sunday's goalless home draw against Arsenal.

But there was no place for van der Schaaf in Guus Hiddink's starting line-up as the PSV coach brought in Johann Vogel and also recalled former Newcastle target Dennis Rommedahl at the expense Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

John De Jong, who had been tipped for the axe, looked keen to justify his selection but was lucky not to be booked in the eighth minute for a reckless challenge on Speed.

De Jong atoned with a crucial tackle on Shearer in the box moments later, but when Bouma blocked the United captain's second attempt, the resultant corner proved costly for the Dutch.

Aaron Hughes then headed behind before Bramble squandered a glorious chance in the 14th minute when he contrived to head wide from no more than three yards with only Waterreus to beat, after Ambrose had produced a tempting right-wing cross.

With Kezman isolated as a lone frontman, precious little was seen of PSV as an attacking force in an opening period in which the Magpies made all the running.

Craig Bellamy fired into the side-netting with an ambitious effort and Jermaine Jenas, Newcastle's first-leg scorer, forced his way through the middle to hit a dipping shot that Waterreus saved low to his left.

Another wicked right-wing flag-kick from Robert presented Jenas with a further opportunity, but his off-balance header at the far post fell wide.

Hiddink, who had hitherto adopted a puzzingly cagey approach, withdrew the ineffectual Rommedahl at half-time and paired Vennegoor with Kezman in a two-pronged attack as PSV launched a desperate attempt to salvage the tie.

But when PSV levelled it owed everything to slack defending on both flanks by United, and Robson made no effort to disguise his disgust.

Newcastle's response was a drive from Robert which Waterreus was happy to push out but after Speed had fired wide, United experienced another hairy moment when Bramble brought down Mark van Bommel dangerously close to the 18-yard line.

Bramble then passed up another great opening when he sent his six-yard header skyward from Robert's free-kick.

As the game gathered in intensity, Lee cut in to drill a low shot to the near post, where Given effected a fine save.

Speed then intervened, but with PSV only needing another goal to go through, it was the most tense conclusion imaginable and Newcastle were grateful to Given when he turned aside Bouma's free-kick after Jonathan Woodgate had been guilty of the foul.

Bouma then blazed over at the death and PSV's hopes had gone.

Result: Newcastle United 2, PSV Eindhoven 1 (Newcastle win 3 - 2 on aggregate.).

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.