Ginola switched wings to deliver another cross that Albert converted on the rebound after first heading against a post.The best was yet to come, and almost inevitably it arrived via Beardsley. Asprilla played a 54th-minute corner to the former England striker, who beat one defender by fainting to shoot from the edge of the area and then beat Nordberg with a chip of such perfection it took the breath away.Newcastle United (3-4-1-2): Srnicek; Watson (Barton, 65), Peacock, Howey (Albert, h-t); Ginola, Lee (Gillespie, 69), Clark, Asprilla; Beardsley; Shearer, Ferdinand. Substitutes not used: Elliott, Hislop (gk).Halmstads (5-3-2): Nordberg; Karlsson, Wiberg, Mattsson, T Andersson, F Andersson; Smith, Arvidsson, M Svensson; Vougt (Lennartsson, 72), R Andersson (Ljungberg, 60) Substitutes not used: Stierna, Selakovic, H Svensson (gk).Referee: K Fisker (Denmark).. After threatening to return to the Uefa Cup with a bang, Aston Villa's display deteriorated into something closer to a slow puncture at Villa Park last night. Even then you suspect Pavel Srnicek would have had more accurate shots covered."We played some great football," Kevin Keegan, the Newcastle manager, said, "and importantly we kept a clean sheet.

Attack appeared to be on the agenda, and so it was to prove on the field in a thrilling first half in which Newcastle's one-touch passing ripped the Swedes to pieces. Teams like that have beaten Blackburn in the past."Recklessness had cost Newcastle in Europe two years ago but if Keegan was preaching caution his team suggested bolder intent. To think last time Newcastle United were in the Uefa Cup they fell victim to their naivety. Last night they were as vulnerable as steel, sweeping Halmstads aside with a flourish to all but ensure a place in the second round. There were none of the defensive blemishes that dissolved a 3-0 lead against Athletic Bilbao in 1994, but only a cold-blooded swagger that yielded enough to make the second leg a formality. They might have been short of total ruthlessness but four goals - from Les Ferdinand, Faustino Asprilla, Philippe Albert and Peter Beardsley - were more than satisfactory. The Swedish part-timers were simply outclassed, their penetrative attacks coming after the damage had been done, Magnus Svensson and Torbjorn Arvidsson both hitting the post in the final 20 minutes. After the interval Barry began to tire and Aberdeen secured their victory with goals from Mark Ovendale and Stephen Glass..

However, the League of Wales champions hit back only six minutes later with a fine goal by Richard Jones. They looked likely to take command when they went ahead after only seven minutes through their leading scorer, Dean Windass. Gabriel Moya headed home the third from another Karpin cross just after half-time with the Germans in disarray.On a soggy Spanish night, Bayern's misery was completed by the dismissal of Alexander Zickler in the closing minutes.In the Nationwide First Division, Barnsley maintained their 100 per cent record with an impressive 3-0 victory over Stoke City, who had begun the night two places behind them in third. Steve Davis, Neil Thompson - from 30 yards - and Andy Liddell scored the goals.. Aberdeen secured a comfortable enough 3-1 victory over Barry Town in the first leg of their Uefa Cup first-round tie at Pittodrie last night, but not before being given a fright. Bayern Munich are in danger of surrendering their hold on the Uefa Cup in two weeks' time after losing the first leg of their first- round tie 3-0 away to Valencia last night. The Germans, who beat Bordeaux to win the trophy in May, were caught in an unexpected backlash to Valencia's current troubles.