NEWCASTLE/FRANKFURT, Oct 19 (SW) - Newcastle United and Palermo both grabbed the early advantage in UEFA Cup Group H on Thursday with victories over Fenerbahçe and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively.

Newcastle United - Fenerbahçe 1-0
In front of a half-full stadium, Newcastle fielded a makeshift lineup to deal with injuries including having Damien Duff at left-back, but they were stronger than anticipated against the Turks.

Obafemi Martins came close just shy of the half-hour mark with a drive from distance and he later had a shot blocked by the desparate Onder Turaci for the Fenerbahçe defense that was stretched by James Milner.

In the second half, Rustu Reçber was called on to make a fine stop from a Martins header, but in the 79th minute the veteran goalkeeper parried a shot by Steven Taylor into the path of Antoine Sibierski who tucked it home.

Eintracht Frankfurt - Palermo 1-2
With the match seemingly headed for half-time scoreless, Frankfurt broke the deadlock in added time as Albert Streit poked home a ball from Ioannis Amanatidis past goalkeeper Alberto Fontana.

But after a half-time dressing down by Francesco Guidolin, Palermo stormed back into the match in the 49th minute as Franco Brienza blasted home a Roberto Guana centering pass.

The Germans were ever so close to retaking the lead with 22 minutes left when a shot by Amanatidis struck the bar, but it was Palermo who would get the last say in the 88th minute as right-back Cristian Zaccardo headed home a Guana free kick for a dramatic win.