History will record that we won this tie with an aggregate score of four goals to two, progressing to the last sixteen of the competition as Shearer and Shola both boosted their Euro goals haul.

That small entry in the record books though looked in some doubt at numerous times during both legs of the tie, not least when the Norwegians netted on home soil and caused us some problems in the closing stages of last week's game.

And again here, when we led thanks to the miscalculation of a linesman, a porous Valerenga wall and big Al's boot, a quick leveller left us looking decidedly nervous and in need of inspiration at half time.

Thankfully Shola re-appeared in place of the hamstrung Bellamy and in stark contrast to his listless shift in Oslo, appeared willing and able to take the fight to the opposition by simply homing in on goal, ball in tow.

It sounds simple, but in the opening 45 minutes we had shown a collective shyness and lethargy going forward that had put the visitors at their ease and even allowed them to dream of an upset.

Indeed Bolthof in the Valerenga goal found himself retrieving the ball from the back of his net just after half time having had very little else to do in the game, save for coming off his line to catch the odd stray cross with relative ease - in contrast to the busier Given.

Ameobi's first goal wasn't exactly a netbuster and owed something to the 'keeper's failings, but was none the less valuable for that. And if he'd tempted a defender into a rash challenge with his run, then that would have inevitably presented Shearer with a chance to convert from the spot. A win-win scenario, as they say in management seminars (although on a St. James' surface that's becoming less and less like a level playing field...)

Like Bellamy and Dyer on Sunday at Pompey, the times that they made headway at pace towards the opposition area were the times that we put defenders on the back foot and made them ill at ease. We just don't do that often enough at present.

With nothing cohesive in the way of service from either flank, Bellamy rarely showing anything while Shearer was constantly being fouled / claiming he'd been fouled (delete as applicable) then the opening forty five minutes presented an almost entertainment-free zone.

Quite simply this was a continuation of the muddled and disjointed second half performance in the Ulleval Stadium, where again we just didn't looked particularly bothered about progressing in this competition.

And had we being playing a more competent side than these lot, we would have been well beyond salvation before Bobby's interval reshuffle.

Without blaming Gary Speed for our collective shortcomings, this was probably his error-strewn game of the season, as the rigours of being a one-man midfield in recent weeks appeared to catch up with him- he of all people may appreciate the lack of a game this weekend. By his own seasonal standards Jenas showed more over the ninety minutes than of late, but that has to be balanced against a Valerenga midfield that weren't as agile or competitive as many in domestic competition.

It had to get better after the break and thankfully it did, although we continued to live on a knife edge until the final few seconds, knowing that a second away goal without reply would dump us out unceremoniously.


That goal almost came when a probing through ball dropped on the foot of an attacker, who chose to try a first time volley from 12 yards that Given was relieved to see rocket over his crossbar. It came as close as that, before a few seconds later Jenas combined with Shola to give the latter his second of the night and move us into the comfort zone - for the final few seconds at least.

Anyone here tonight though representing other clubs will have left safe in the knowledge that they'd witnessed nothing to cause their employers sleepless nights, on or off the pitch. Regardless of those players missing from the fray, we surely could have shown more interest in proceedings or something approaching stomach for the fight. As it was, that mundanity transferred itself to the crowd, aside from the exuberant and well-lubricated visiting enclosure.

Progress then in the competition but hardly an inspiring display for the crowd or TV audience or pundits to enthuse over.

Both O'Brien and Shearer remain one booking away from a one-match ban after avoiding a card in this game. Whether our sense of Britishness and fair play would have allowed thoughts of getting those bans over and done with by incurring a card in one of the Valerenga games we'll probably never know but were we to continue to progress in this competition, it would be typical of our contrariness to rest the captain in one round and then see him miss a vital tie later on.

A word also for Martin Brittain, making his bow in senior football as a substitute for Bridges and patrolling the right flank in the closing stages.

For Britt, it's recognition of the progress he's made under the tutelage of Tommy Craig and Kenny Wharton in our reserve sides this season, where his crossing ability and eye for goal (especially from set pieces) have contributed greatly to the improved results and displays at that level.

Whether we'll ever hear from him again though, with the likes of Ambrose and Bowyer ahead of him when available, remains to be seen.

Perhaps the way forward for him is to follow in the footsteps of his bench partners this evening, Bradley Orr and Steven Taylor, both of whom have made loan switches into the Nationwide League this season while they await their Newcastle debuts.

One senses though that we're going to need more than willing triers to augment our occasionally inspired acquisitions. For that reason we're told that the Champions League money is essential, but given our lack of development this season, we've no right to do anything other than dream of such an influx of cash.

At present our UEFA cup campaign mirrors that of the Premiership one, in that we're dependent on the charity of others and the failings of our rivals. There's a limit to the number of times we can paper over the cracks and trot out the old maxim about good teams playing badly and getting results.

Nights like these in many ways obscure the reality of our situation, regardless of the final outcome after ninety minutes.