SIR BOBBY ROBSON was ignored by the Barcelona public - just as his Newcastle defence ignored the Catalan giants to their cost in last night's Champions League Group A clash.

The anticipated warm welcome for former Barca manager Robson on his return to the Nou Camp failed to materialise.

It was lukewarm to say the least and the home fans weren't too kind either to under-pressure Barca boss Louis van Gaal, despite seeing their side establish a record tenth straight win in the competition.

Van Gaal was roundly booed when he ventured from the dug-out early in the second half.

But the Dutchman ultimately had the satisfaction of a victory that, with Barca in the midst of a domestic crisis after four La Liga games without a win, buys him vital breathing space.

Former Middlesbrough target Dani handed Barca a seventh-minute lead before Shola Ameobi's fourth goal of the season in the 23rd minute turned the game into a contest.

But Newcastle, troubled once more by inept defending, could only stay on level terms for 12 minutes.

It was Holland forward Patrick Kluivert, who scored in Barca's 3-0 pre-season win on Tyneside, who struck at a time when Newcastle were just getting into their stride.

And Barca ensured they remained unbeaten at home in all competitions this season when midfielder Thiago Motta added their third goal in the 58th minute.

The thunderstorms which deluged the Nou Camp and forced this game to be postponed on Tuesday, had mercifully relented.

But although this was a far more significant occasion than the last time Newcastle were here, when Barca won 1-0 in a near-meaningless match played out before a meagre crowd estimated at no more than 25,000, the locals were similarly unenthusiastic.

This awe-inspiring amphitheatre - with a capacity of nearly 100,000 - was less than half-full despite the perceived attraction of Robson being back on his old patch.

Five years ago, Barca had already failed to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League after a disastrous campaign, while Newcastle's defeat snuffed out any lingering interest they had in the competition.

But last night was a measure of the Magpies' heady progression to the last 16 under the remarkable Robson.

Without the talismanic talents of skipper Alan Shearer and strike partner Craig Bellamy through suspension, Robson knew he had to utilise all his wiles to do justice to his side's presence in such illustrious company.

After the 4-1 home drubbing by Inter Milan a fortnight earlier, when Bellamy was sent off for violent conduct in only the fifth minute and Shearer committed a similar offence later punished by UEFA's disciplinary body, United faced a supreme test of their resolve.

England under-21 international Ameobi and Lomana LuaLua were asked to carry the burden of United's attacking intent.

But LuaLua, not noted for his defensive qualities, was the guilty man when Barca seized the lead.

The Democratic Republic of Congo star gave the ball away and when it eventually found its way to Xavi, the midfielder whipped over a cross from the right to the far post where Dani was free to drill home an angled drive.

This had been preceded by chances for Phillip Cocu and Kluivert as Barca started firmly in the ascendancy.

But it was LuaLua who brought Newcastle to life in the tenth minute with a clever back-heel to release Laurent Robert inside the home penalty area.

The Frenchman fired across the face of goal and the ball took a ricochet or two and could easily have gone in off Nolberto Solano on the eve of his 28th birthday.

Barca were then hit by double Dutch trouble when they were forced to make two substitutions in the space of three minutes.

Holland defender Michael Reiziger was stretchered off after seemingly twisting his knee, and Cocu - capatin in the absence of the injured Luis Enrique - also looked to be in some discomfort as he left the field.

The changes appeared to unsettle the home side and Newcastle took full advantage to draw level. Neat interplay saw Gary Speed, then Solano and Kieron Dyer, work the ball out to the right for the unmarked Ameobi, whose shot took a deflection as it flew past goalkeeper Roberto Oscar Bonano into the far corner of the net.

Ten minutes later, Bonano fared better when he pulled off a superb one-handed save from a sweet Solano strike which was no less impressive.

But Newcastle's slipshod defending cost them again as Barca regained the lead, with Marc Overmars supplying a centre from the left for the unchallenged Kluivert to stroke the ball beyond keeper Shay Given from around 12 yards.

A powerful drive by LuaLua five minutes into the second half was always going wide.

But it was a closer call soon afterwards when the impressive Solano chipped the ball in from the right and Ameobi's brave header dropped just past the post.

Ameobi was then desperately unlucky to see his downward header, from Solano's corner, knocked off the line by Juan Roman Riquelme.

And the Barca midfielder's input was crucial at the other end as United slipped further behind.

Motta met Riquelme's left-wing corner with a glancing header and the ball had crossed the line before Dyer's half-hearted attempt to keep it out.

Barca then had justifiable penalty claims waved aside by referee Frank De Bleeckere after Olivier Bernard brought down Dani just inside the area.

Ameobi was out of luck again in the 70th minute when Bonano went low to stop a stinging drive.

It just wasn't to be Sir Bobby's night.

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