90 mins Although various agencies and media outlets mysteriously gave the scorer as Milner, there was no doubting that Emre took the ball from the right flank along the edge of the box, before sweeping home a looping shot that the goalkeeper watched as it sailed past him at the end where the away supporters were housed. 3-0

Full time: Lillestrøm 0 Newcastle 3

Glenn Roeder said:

"I am delighted. While I didn't want to sound cocky or arrogant before the game, I was always confident of a display - and a result - like that.

"I could just see an improvement on the training ground as the week wore on.

"Some of our passing was sloppy last week. The movement wasn't there - but it was this afternoon.

"We got right at them from the off, and the two goals from Shola put us in a great position by half time.

"They had to run at us and get the ball off us after that, and in that heat we made it tough for them.

"I was pleased to see Emre get his goal at the end - all in all it was a good afternoon for us.

Shola should not have been out there. We kept it a secret. He picked up an ankle injury in training and he had no chance on Thursday. It just shows the character of the lad and the spirit in the team."

The double goalscorer added:

"It's going to be tough to beat the record but hopefully if we get a run in Europe then you never know. We really want this European cup that has eluded us in the past few years."

"I'm concentrating on getting fully fit for the start of the season and I can hopefully get fully fit for the UEFA qualifier and be raring to go. We know that half the work done last season could have been undone if we weren't professional enough, and thankfully we've done the business.

"We've come here and we played what I felt was a fantastic game and with the lack of match-fitness that we have I thought we were terrific and we were worthy winners.

"Last week was the first game that the lads had and to be going into your first match in pre-season as a competitive one it was always going to be hard, but we knew it would stand us in good stead for the second leg.

"The fact that we have worked so hard for the first 17 days just to get fit for these games has paid off. I felt we were strong as a team, even towards the end of the game we were fantastic.

"I'm delighted with the goals I scored. As a striker it's good to get off to a good start and to score two goals in my first game is fantastic for my confidence. It's the perfect opportunity for me to be the main man in attack. That's what I've been working towards and I'm aiming for this season.""

"He obviously wasn't 100% fit and at first we had him under complete control but then he showed his class with a quality goal. He has height, deceptive pace and technique which are all the requirements of a top player."

After the snow and ice of our 2004 Oslo expedition, Newcastle followers basked in the roasting Scandinavian sunshine as their side secured the victory that set us on the road to a tenth UEFA Cup adventure.

To be honest though, this was a remarkably stress-free success, as the home side showed little of their forward movement or the general feistiness that saw us struggle at SJP in the opening half of last week's game.

From the off, Lillestrøm seemed unwilling to press us and happy to sit on their away goal advantage, which allowed us to settle quickly and build towards scoring the goal that would be needed as a minimum if we weren't to slip out - a prospect that just didn't bear contemplation but that we'd frankly half-expected before the game.     

The opener came just at the right time, but still didn't rouse Rosler's side into action. And once the second goal went in, the match took on the air of a pre-season kickabout, with the tempo dropping in the second half as the heat took its toll and we reverted to a virtual 4-6 formation after Shola departed (Milner then Zog nominally taking the lone front man role.)

That's not to say that the home side didn't have their moments in the second half, but a belated emphasis on trying to get on the scoresheet when needing to score three times came too little, too late - none of the Lillestrømers doing enough to catch the eye of any Premiership scouts.

Emre's last minute goal tied things up nicely and coming in front of the away end, rounded things off for the Scandinvian Mags, who had a first victory on their soil to celebrate. 

also sparing the blushes of Scott Parker, who should have netted moments earlier when through one on one with the 'keeper.

Positive signs were everywhere, with confirmation from England of the Damien Duff deal, Craig Moore returning from his World Cup adventure unscathed and of course two goals from our sole striking hope. But the shot in the arm of having made it through to the UEFA Cup qualifier at least was the prime plus for those who made it over from England. 

We may not have a squad big enough at present of sustaining campaigns on more than one front, but the lure of European travel remains a prime motivator for fans, regardless of the stature of the competition.

While the big nights in Rotterdam, Barcelona or Milan have become part of recent Geordie folklore, trips to the likes of Olympiakos and Heerenveen can also be looked back on fondly - although you'll forgive us if we're not desperate to repeat the Israel adventure at this moment in time.... 

Victory secured, many fans made their way back into Oslo by train and City centre bars did good business, boosted by the appearance of Valerenga fans who had just watched their team lose at home to local rivals Lyn.

However that didn't seem to concern them unduly, most of them seeming more interested in hearing about our victory over what more than one called the mackems of Norway! 

With some locals travelling over to our game in 2004 and having had a fine time in Toon apparently, handshakes and thumbs up gestures were directed towards those clad in black and white - as well as the offer of the odd free drink. 

So it was a contented bunch of black-and-whiters who made their way to Torp Airport on Sunday morning, for what should have been a routine flight getting them back to Tyneside in time for some sensibly-priced celebratory beers. 

Unfortunately Lying Air had other ideas, as they played their joker and conducted their own version of a European draw at short notice. 

London, Liverpool, Glasgow and Frankfurt were among the unexpected destinations fans were sent to, while others faced the prospect of another night in Norway. A great shame after what had been an otherwise enjoyable trip, especially at £2.50 a pint (if you knew where to look).

Roll on the draw - and let's hope it's to somewhere that those Irish conmen don't have a monopoly on flying to....   

Biffa

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