5 Goals That Could Have Changed Newcastle United Forever

3. Kieron Dyer (0-1 vs Partizan Belgrade) - Champions League Qualifier 2003

If there's one moment that can so precisely pinpoint where Newcastle went from being genuine contenders for the Premier League, to the shambles of big egos and bigger wages that were relegated in 2010, it's their failure to progress to the Champions League group stages in 2003. Coming off the back of Robson's best season at the club, which had seen them finish third in the table and given the fans some of the most memorable European nights in their history, Newcastle had the straightforward task of a two-legged tie with Serbian side Partizan Belgrade standing between them and back-to-back Champions League campaigns. They rolled up for the away leg and dispatched their opponents 1-0, giving them a precious away goal to bring back to St James'. Things looked, as they often did, quite promising. What was served up on the night of the return leg however remains one of the most uninspiring and gutless performances ever associated with Newcastle United. After plodding around for the entire first half, seemingly without any idea how to break their opponents down, the second period started with a shock, but ultimately deserved goal for the visitors. That levelled the tie up on the night, eventually taking it to extra time and penalties - where Newcastle would somehow conspire to miss four of the bloody things. But immediately after the goal Newcastle had their best chance of the night. Alan Shearer scurried to the edge of the box to receive a pass from the onrushing Aaron Hughes, flicking it on and into the path of Kieron Dyer, who'd slipped his marker. Dyer took a touch inside the last defender and found himself a mere 7 yards from goal with only the goalkeeper to beat. He stumbled and flicked a leg at the ball, seemingly trying to toe-punt it into the near post, but the goalkeeper was just equal with his reactions, and eventually gathered the ball at the second attempt. In the ensuing 75 minutes of football, Newcastle barely threatened again.

Money earmarked for player recruitment was shelved, the club stuttered back down the league, Robson was gone little over 12 months later, and Newcastle have never since darkened the door of Europe's elite club competition. It's arguable that a result in this game would only have postponed the inevitable, but the lift qualification would have brought, as well as the players who would have joined the club, could have had almost any effect on the future of the side and its manager.