Newcastle's continued assault on a UEFA Cup spot has caused ructions - but only among fans of fierce rivals Sunderland.

The much maligned tournament has become a major talking point on Wearside with fans questioning why Peter Reid chose to ignore its attractions.

But as Newcastle home in on a final berth after Wednesday's 3-2 win in Munich, Martyn McFadden of Sunderland fanzine A Love Supreme, says Black Cats' supporters are split on whether Reid made the right decision.

"It is 50-50 amongst the fans," he said. "But first of all it has to be said that the Intertoto is a non-entity of a competition.

"If Newcastle manage to win the event then I can't see them going far in the UEFA Cup but if Sunderland had qualified then I believe they are ready for European football."

Cruelly nicknamed by many as the 'two-bob cup', the back door route to European glory is seen by some clubs, Sunderland included, as an unnecessary distraction.

But McFadden added: "The argument that it interferes with the preseason is shot down in the fans' eyes by the fact that Sunderland have arranged nine first team pre-season games.

"If - and I repeat if - Newcastle win the Intertoto will have played six games.

"What it has shown is that the Premiership is a strong league but when you get teams that finished in the bottom half of the Bundesliga playing teams that finished in the bottom half of the Premership then it shows what a non-entity of a competition it is.

"They should just forget about it and hand out more European spots to the leagues that are the strongest."

Three games down the line and Newcastle's campaign now sees them with one foot in the final - and at least a couple toes loosely gripping that UEFA cup spot.

Many players dream of playing at the highest level of European football and Nolberto Solano is amongst them.

Solano, who netted two in Germany, said: "I hope our performance has made people sit up and take notice of Newcastle again. It was just what we needed to give everyone at the club a huge lift."

After Wednesday's highly eventful victory, ever cautious Robson was quick to point out that tie wasn't over. However, the Magpies will kick themselves if they somehow manage to lose by two goals back at St James' Park on Wednesday.

The Stadium of Light has been earmarked as a potential venue for European final - the fans would lap up a few European nights for Sunderland for starters.

McFadden added: "Every fan wants to see Sunderland playing in Europe at the Stadium rather than seeing someone like Man Utd playing in a final there."

* French defender Marcel Desailly has replaced Dennis Wise as Chelsea captain and the 32-year-old will be assisted by two club captains in Gianfranco Zola and Graeme Le Saux

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