Newcastle Utd 5: Bellamy 31, 36; Bramble 58; Shearer 76, Ambrose 88
NAC Breda 0:

Final Update: 90mins (7.45pm kick-off)

United: Given, Hughes, O'Brien, Bramble, Bernard (Viana 83), Jenas, Speed, Dyer (Ambrose 77), Robert, Shearer, Bellamy (Ameobi 83)  Subs (not used): Griffin, LuaLua, Caig, Caldwell

Breda: Babos, Feher, Penders, Schenning, Gudelj, Peto, Engelaar, Slot (Koning 60), Diba (Boussaboun 72), Elmander, Seedorf  Subs (not used): Collen, Vos, Barakat, Stam, Coutinho

Referee: N Ivanov (Russia)

Attendance: 36,004

SIR Bobby Robson made three changes to the suide that were held by Bolton at the weekend as NAC Breda visited St. James' Park in the UEFA Cup first round first leg.

Andy O'Brien and Aaron Hughes came into the back four in place of Jonathan Woodgate and Andy Griffin, while Jermaine Jenas started in midfield in place of Nobby Solano.

Breda got the game underway attacking the Gallowgate End backed by one of the largest - and noisiest - followings seen at St. James' for some time, but it was the home fans who were almost cheering a goal inside two minutes when Robert's cross caused confusion, but goalkeeper Babos cleared under pressure from Dyer.

At the other end on seven minutes Robert lost possession in midfield to Solt, but when he played Diba in on the right channel the cross was cleared.

On 16 minutes Robert, who at the centre of most of United's early attacks, was fouled out on the left, but when he swung the ball in it was half cleared and Bernard could not find the target from the edge of the box.

Breda centre forward Elamander then tried his luck with a half volley from an angle that flew well wide, then Shearer's header from Robert's free kick saw Schenning divert the ball dangerously close to his own goal and his goalkeeper was forced to tip it over his bar for a corner.

On 25 minutes the goalkeeper made a good block to keep out a hooked effort from Bellamy after Robert had chipped a free kick into the danger area.

United took the lead on 31 minutes with a great goal from Bellamy. O'Brien hooked the ball forward for Shearer, and when he flicked the ball into space Bellamy latched onto it and chipped the ball over the advancing Babos to register his first goal of the season.

United went 2-0 up on 36 minutes with a great goal. Dyer picked up the ball in midfield and advanced before sending Robert away. It looked as though the Frenchman was going to shoot, but he unselfishly squared the ball to Bellamy and he had the simple task of slotting the ball into an empty net.

Breda had a great chance to get back into the game five minutes before the break when Penders threaded a pass through to Elmander, but Given spread himself well and made the block.

Peto was cautioned on 43 minutres for a foul on Dyer, joining Gudelj in the book after he saw yello for a foul on Dyer earlier in the half. United won a free kick 25 yards out, but Robert's low drive was well held by Babos.

Peto forced Given into a fine save late on, meaning Newcastle led 2-0 at the interval.

Bellamy was desperately unlucky not to complete his treble a minute into the second period when Hughes pulled the ball back from the right hand byeline. Peto deflected a clearance back into the path of the Welshman, but his shot on the turn looped over the goalkeeper and came back off the bar.

Robert then shot over the bar after beating his marker on the left, then Penders had to concede a corner after Bellamy fed Dyer on the other flank.

On 58 minutes United went 3-0 in front, and it was defender Bramble who was on the scoresheet with his first goal since joining the club.

Robert swung in a left wing corner after winning the flag kick himself, and Bramble - who hit the bar with a header against Bolton in the last game - made no mistake after rising highest in a crowded box.

Bellamy shot wide two minutes later, then Babos had to race out of his box to clear as the striker chased a Shearer flick on.

Bernard needed treatment on 65 minutes when he was flattened by Koning as he tried to play a quick return of pass with Speed, but he quickly returned to the field after getting attention on the sideline.

Dyer won a corner moments later after some nifty footwork in the penalty area, but United could not make the set piece count.

Shearer missed a great chance to make it 4-0 on 70 minutes when Robert slid a pass across the face of goal, but the skipper could not keep his shot down as he stretched to reach it at the back post and his effort flew over the bar.

Robert was havinga  fine game, and he was inches away from poking the ball home two minutes later after a quick one/two with Bellamy, but a Dutch defender just managed to get ahead of him and Babos booted the ball away to safety.

United won a free kick 28 yards out on 77 minutes after a foul on Bellamy, and when Robert rolled the ball into the path of Shearer the skipper had time to take a touch and blast the ball home to make it 4-0.

A minute after the goal, Sir Bobby made a change when he replaced the hard-working Dyer with Darren Ambrose.

With seven minutes left and the game over as a contest on the night, Sir Bobby made a double substitution when he threw on Viana and Ameobi for Bernard and Bellamy.

Ameobi swung a dangerous cross into the area moments after coming on, but Babos dived to punch the ball away, then after the striker saw another cross headed clear, Viana wasn't too far away from finding the target with a superb effort from 35 yards that just dipped over the bar.

Two minutes from the end, Robert put in another good cross from the left, and Ambrose marked his first appearance for the first team at Gallowgate with a glancing header from seven yards to make it 5-0.