BOBBY ROBSON'S European dreams were agonisingly dashed in an eight-goal extravaganza at St. James' Park on Tuesday night.

French side Troyes clinched a place in the first round of the UEFA Cup on the away-goal rule, after Newcastle fought back from 4-1 down to level the scores.

The Magpies had got off to a flying start in the second leg of this Intertoto Cup final through Nolberto Solano's sublime second-minute goal.

But slick Troyes turned the game on its head. Medhi Leroy scored with a 25th-minute free-kick and Nicolas Gousse added a second three minutes later.

Then Samuel Boutal put the boot in with a brace in 46 and 62 minutes.

But spirited United refused to give up the ghost. Shola Ameobi pulled one back in the 65th minute and Gary Speed converted a 70th-minute penalty before Aaron Hughes equalised at the death when he touched in Lomana LuaLua's corner, moments after keeper Tony Heurtebis had blocked a Nikos Dabizas header from point-blank range.

Robson stoked up the smouldering embers of the first leg with a pre-match attack on the visitors, who he accused of being "underhand'' for having lodged a protest to UEFA against the eligibility of Solano.

The Peru star, dogged by controversy and currently at loggerheads with Robson over his insistence on resurrecting his international career, had been at the centre of allegations concerning the validity of his passport credentials.

United hit back by reporting Troyes to UEFA, claiming their ground was unfit, and Robson laid bare the simmering resentment when he spoke out again about the Solano affair. "I thought what they did was rather underhand,'' complained Robson.

A fortnight earlier, however, the United boss had been forced to admit that his side were fortunate to escape from the Stade de L'Aube with a goalless draw on a night which witnessed an inspired display by keeper Shay Given.

That form momentarily deserted the Republic of Ireland international in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Chelsea, where his mistake allowed former United target Boudewijn Zenden to grab an eighth-minute opener.

But Given enjoyed a more comfortable start to proceedings last night as United seized the early initiative.

Shola Ameobi set up strike partner Craig Bellamy on the right in the second minute, but his angled finish was saved low by keeper Tony Heurtebis.

Moments later, though, Solano struck. The move began with a robust challenge by Robert Lee, and when the acting skipper quickly squared the ball to Solano, the South American ace let loose a dipping drive from around 25 yards which left Heurtebis comprehensively beaten.

But Troyes, fresh from their superb victory at Marseille last weekend, then started to show ominous glimpses of the fluid movement and incisive breaks which caused the Magpies so many problems in the first encounter.

Former Caen striker Samuel Boutal was only inches away from reaching Luciano Zavagno's left-wing centre, before a low drive from Leroy bobbled awkwardly infront of Given, who gathered the ball with a degree of uncertainty and drew ironic cheers from a home crowd mindful of his Chelsea howler.

United suffered another scare in the 18th minute when Medhi Meniri's lofted effort dropped just wide of the unguarded goal after Given had been forced to leave his line and punch clear.

But Given was completely bamboozled when Leroy's 30-yard free-kick swerved viciously and the keeper could only help the ball into the net as he desperately tried to readjust his footing.

Three minutes later United faced a mountainous task as the French outfit grabbed a second away goal. Gousse ghosted past Warren Barton and broke clear to bury an angled shot beyond Given and into the far corner of the net.

Wayne Quinn was agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 32nd minute after latching on to Solano's right-wing cross and United were out of luck again five minutes before the break when Bellamy's near-post effort was touched wide by the leg of Heurtebis.

Lee's frustration showed when he was booked for a foul on Leroy and United were booed off at half-time by a disgruntled Toon Army.

But the crowd fell silent with the second half little more than a minute old when Barton was troubled by indecision and Troyes took full advantage.

Jerome Rothen robbed the United right-back and found Gousse, whose shot skimmed against the near post before Boutal poked knocked in the rebound from close range.

Barton immediately became a target for the boo boys in the Sir John Hall stand, and he gave them what looked to be a withering glance before the rest of the crowd rallied with cheers when he next touched the ball.

Robbie Elliott was booked for a foul on Hamed in the 55th minute, but the Troyes wing-back showed no ill effects soon afterwards when he produced an audacious chip which had Given back-pedalling to tip the ball over.

But Troyes then stepped up a gear again to add a fourth when Rothen swung the ball in from the left and Boutal's bullet header was helped into the roof of the net by Given.

United refused to lie down, however, and Ameobi reduced the arrears in the 65th minute after the ball broke to him from Elliott's left-wing cross.

Ameobi was in the thick of things again five minutes later as United attempted to complete mission impossible. Medhi Meniri bundled over Ameobi in the box and Gary Speed stroked home the resultant penalty.

Read more about Newcastle United here.