Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of Newcastle United's opening Europa League group match against Maritimo.
Alan Pardew is without several key players for the Group D clash in Portugal.
The Toon continue their first European campaign in six seasons without Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse.
Please note that kickoff is at 6pm.
7.58pmThank you for joining us here at Sports Mole on Europa League Thursday. Do please stay with us for coverage of Tottenham Hotspur's match against Italian giants Lazio.
7.57pmGael Birigimana was impressive for the Toon, who will now switch their attention to Sunday's Premier League clash at home to Norwich City.
7.56pmNewcastle had the better chances and struck the woodwork twice through Dan Gosling and Shola Ameobi.
Full Time!It finishes goalless in Madeira and Newcastle have to settle for a point in their opening Group D match.
7.54pmA long cross for Maritimo is met by Fidelis, who sends a powerful header over the bar.
7.53pmMike Williams meets the corner and Newcastle clear their lines.
7.52pmMaritimo go straight up the other end and force a smart save from Rob Elliot. Late corner for the home side.
7.51pmSammy Ameobi beats a defender and finds space out wide, but once again for Newcastle the final ball is below par.
7.50pmThe 90 minutes are up as the fourth official puts up the board to signal five minutes of injury time.
7.49pmDan Gosling goes down as we inch towards stoppage time.
7.48pmMarveaux picks out Shola Ameobi with a long pass, but the striker's shot is blocked on the edge of the area.
7.47pmSanton is booked in the aftermath for stepping infront of the Maritimo free kick.
7.46pmShane Ferguson does well to hold up the ball out wide, but switches off and passes to Santon in an offside position.
7.45pmBigirimana hoists the ball into the area, but cannot pick out a yellow Newcastle shirt.
7.44pmAmeobi wins a free kick in an advanced position.
7.42pmLast sub from Maritimo as Adilson is introduced, the home side are in the ascendancy as the match draws to a close.
OFF THE LINEMaritimo go agonisingly close to finding a winner. A header from Roberge is cleared off the line by Santon after taking a deflection off the bar.
7.41pmNewcastle make their final change, with Gabi Obertan replaced by Sylvain Marveaux.
7.40pmMaritimo win a corner with ten minutes to play, which is cleared by Williamson for a quick repeat.
7.38pmSammi Ameobi makes a forward burst, but lacks support and is crowded out by three Maritimo defenders.
7.37pmFerguson's pace will be useful weapon in the closing stages for Newcastle.
7.36pm15 minutes left to play in Portugal and Pardew decides to make his second sub, with Amalfitano being replaced by Shane Ferguson.
7.35pmMaritimo make their second change as left winger Goncalo Abreu comes on for David Simao.
7.33pmSami is the danger man again after a sweeping Maritimo move, but a strong challenge from James Perch wins the ball back for Newcastle.
7.31pmAnother shot from Sami drifts wide just moments later.
7.30pmSami finds space in the box and nearly catches out Elliot with a shot at the near post. Good save from the stand-in keeper.
7.28pmAmalfitano lunges in late and earns a yellow card, the third of this game.
7.26pmAnother neat turn from Shola Ameobi in the box, Maritimo can't handle the big man. He finds space but fluffs his shot straight at the Maritimo keeper.
7.24pmA strike from range fails to test Rob Elliot. Time for the Toon to step it up if they want to leave Portugal with three points.
7.22pmSammi Ameobi has a shot from the edge of the area, which takes a deflection to win Newcastle their first corner of the second half.
7.21pmNewcastle have dropped off the pace on the hour mark, Obertan is definitely the out ball right now.
7.19pmMaritimo nearly open the scoring through substitute Fidelis. He is picked out brilliantly by Sami, but the Brazilian's shot goes just inches past the post.
7.17pmSammi Ameobi picks out his brother Shola, who rolls in Amalfitano. He cuts inside and snatches at a shot, which drifts harmlessly wide.
7.15pmTen minutes into the second half and Newcastle definitely look like the side more likely to break the deadlock.
7.14pmMaritimo also take the change to make a change, with striker Heldon replaced by the powerful looking Fidelis.
Newcastle SubstitutionVuckic has pulled up for Newcastle, and will not be risked. He is replaced by Sammi Ameobi, who joins his brother in an attacking position.
7.13pmThe Frenchman has had time and space early in this second half, but is yet to pick out a meaningful pass.
7.12pmObertan breaks clear again out wide, but his cross into the six-yard box is booted to safety.
7.11pmThe referee annoys both teams with a strange set of free-kick decisions.
7.09pmAt the other end Simao tries a strike from range, which is easily gathered by Rob Elliot.
TOON HIT THE BARAmeobi turns brilliantly inside the box, cuts inside and curls the ball onto the crossbar. Very unlucky there for the Magpies skipper.
7.06pmAmeobi flicks the ball out wide to a surging Obertan, who cannot pick out a Newcastle player in the penalty area.
7.05pmNewcastle get the match back underway with a long drive up to Shola Ameobi.
7.03pmHere come Newcastle for the second half, and you can hardly miss them in that bright yellow kit.
7.02pmOver in France the other game in Newcastle's group has seen goal action, with Bordeaux leading Club Brugge 3-0.
7.00pmJust a few moments away from the second half now in Portugal, and if Newcastle can up the intensity this match is definitely there for the taking.
6.57pmMaritimo do carry a threat on the break, with Simao (no, not that one) producing a series of dangerous crosses in the early going.
6.54pmPardew will want more from his wide players, with Obertan and Amalfitano both staying on the periphery in the first half.
6.52pmShola Ameobi also came agonisingly close for the Toon, as his header from close range was dramatically cleared off the line.
6.50pmNewcastle made a poor start but slowly grew in confidence and are unlucky to only go into the break level after Dan Gosling struck the post.
6.49pmSimao is booked for his protests as the referee brings the first half to a close in Madeira.
6.48pmSteven Taylor fails to meet a through ball and Sami is in behind quickly. Luckily for Newcastle he stumbles and the ball ends up in Elliot's hands. Maritimo want a free-kick for a backpass against Williamson, not given.
6.46pmThe Newcastle bench are far from happy with that passage of events as the first half draws to a close on a frustrating note.
6.45pmA yellow card for Gael Birigimana in bizarre circumstances. Maritimo decide to play on from a drop ball rather than give the ball back, and Bigirimana makes a tackle to earn the first caution of the match.
6.44pmDavide Santon sums up the first half with a speculative strike from distance that nearly goes out for a throw.
6.43pmSome smart work up the other end from Obertan wins Newcastle a corner.
6.42pmSimao whips another great cross into the near post for Maritimo, but once again there is no one on the end of it. The home side definitely lack a cutting edge.
6.40pmAmeobi reaches a long ball and flicks it on the Vuckic, but the linesman has flagged for offside.
6.39pmMaritimo break and Elliot is forced to come off his line to stop Heldon reaching a through ball.
6.38pmThe stadium in Madeira is so deserted every shout from the players is clearly audible. A strange setting for a European match.
6.37pmAmeobi really should have squared the ball to Vuckic there, the second time Shola has been guilty of choosing the wrong option.
6.36pmBigirimana robs the ball high up the pitch and finds Ameobi, but he is crowded out in the penalty area.
6.35pmNewcastle are growing in confidence and finally look comfortable in possession.
6.33pmJoao Luiz aims a volley from range, but it drifts high and wide.
6.32pmAmeobi finds space in the penalty area, but he chooses to shoot rather than square the ball and the Maritimo keeper makes an easy save.
6.31pmNewcastle have definitely picked up the pace in the last five minutes.
6.30pmThe shots are flying across goal now for Newcastle. This time Obertan hits a half-volley from a wide angle, a nice effort which drifts a few yards wide.
Gosling hits the post!Dan Gosling strikes the ball from outside the area, his shot beats the keeper but cannons back off the right-hand post.
OFF THE LINEA cross from Amalfitano is met by Williamson, his shot is blocked and falls to Ameobi just three yards out. His downward header is somehow forced off the line and the chance is gone.
6.27pmBigirimana drills the corner in and forces the keeper to rip the ball over. Corner number two for the Toon.
6.26pmA long-range strike from Vuckic earns Newcastle their first corner of the match.
6.24pmSteven Taylor smashes Joao Luiz with an elbow as both players try to head the ball, with the forward still down just outside the penalty area. Luckily for Newcastle the referee takes no action.
6.23pmAmeobi chases down an aimless ball out wide and somehow keeps the ball in play, but collides with the temporary hoardings in the process.
6.21pmNewcastle are allowing Maritimo to control the match in midfield. Young Haris Vuckic, playing just off Ameobi, has seen very little of the ball in the opening 20 minutes.
6.19pmMaritimo win a third corner of the match as Heldon forces Santon to make the interception.
6.18pmThe pitch does look atrocious, and will no doubt be Alan Pardew's first complaint in the post-match interview, and with justification.
6.17pmThe free kick is taken by Bigirimana, but Ameobi is penalised for pushing in the penalty area.
6.16pmAmeobi wins a free kick in an advanced position after being cynically hacked down.
6.15pmA quick goal update from the other match in Newcastle's Europa League group, where Bordeaux have taken an early lead against Club Brugge.
6.14pmNewcastle need to try and get sustained possession, they are lucky not be a goal down in this opening 15 minutes. At least they don't have a home crowd to keep quiet. Other than a lone drum.
6.13pmMaritimo go close again. A mistake in possession from Mike Williamson left Sami clean through on goal, but his shot from close range was well saved by Elliot.
6.11pmRob Elliot is forced into a smart save after a strong volley from Sami. Sloppy defending there from Newcastle on two set-pieces.
6.10pmTwo corners in a row for Maritimo as Newcastle go to sleep from a short corner.
6.09pmA bright run from Santon down the left-hand side gives Newcastle their first sniff of a chance, but Amalfitano fails to evade a strong challenge.
6.08pmAnother excellent cross from Maritimo, this time form Sami, but once again central striker Heldon fails to make contact.
6.07pmDespite making wholesale changes its notable that Pardew has kept a solid, experienced back four on the pitch. Taylor, Williamson and Davide Santon are all first-team regulars.
6.06pmGosling tries to slide in lone striker Shola Ameobi, but he drifts offside.
6.05pmAn early foul on Dan Gosling could quite easily have seen a yellow card. A let off from the referee, most likely as the match is less than five minutes old.
6.04pmNewcastle get some early possession, but Gabriel Obertan loses the ball in an advanced position.
6.02pmThe home side nearly had an opener inside a minute. A wonderful cross from Simao, whizzed across the six-yard box, fails to find a striker.
6.01pmMaritimo get things underway on a pretty poor surface.
6.00pmJust a reminder that Alan Pardew has made seven changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Everton on Monday. A youthful look to the Toon team tonight and a chance for Pardew to try some new options.
5.58pmA kaleidoscope of colour on the pitch tonight, with Newcastle in a garish bright Yellow, while Maritimo are in their usual red and green.
5.57pmAnd the commentary team have just cleared that one up. Building work on the stadium has reduced the capacity to below 5,000 fans.
5.56pmThe teams are about to make their way out in Portugal, infront of what I will generously describe as a half-empty stadium.
5.54pmLittle sidenote amongst the Europa madness tonight. Former Toon midfielder Joey Barton has been picked to make his Marseille debut away at Turkish giants Fenerbahce. A recipe for disaster surely?
5.52pmSpeaking of Krul, the Dutch international has just taken to Twitter to wish the team luck tonight. "Good luck to the lads tonight in the 1st European group game away Vs Maritimo.."
5.51pmSteve Harper also drops back to the bench after an impressive performance against Everton, with first-choice keeper Tim Krul still out with an elbow injury.
5.50pmThe Toon bench this evening is also full of teenagers, with Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson the most prominent names.
5.48pmLooks like a 4-2-3-1 tonight for Newcastle, with youngsters Gael Bigirimana and Dan Gosling anchoring the midfield.
5.45pmVurnon Anita is among the missing party for the Toon tonight, but he has a good reason. The Dutch midfielder flew home early after his girlfriend went into labour.
5.44pmSummer signing Romain Amalfitano also makes his full Newcastle debut, with goalkeeper Rob Elliot making his second senior appearance.
5.42pmShola Ameobi will lead the line for the Magpies tonight, and is handed the captain's armband.
5.40pmAlan Pardew has made seven changes from the side which drew 2-2 with Everton on Monday night.
Newcastle Starting XIElliot; Perch, Williamson, S.Taylor, Santon; Bigirimana, Gosling; Obertan, Vuckic, Amalfitano; Shola Ameobi
5.38pmHello Thursday night football fans, we are twenty minutes from kick off in Portgual. Let's get some Toon team news.
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
