Newcastle 0-1 Borussia Dortmund: Player ratings as Magpies suffer frustrating Champions League defeat

Newcastle United fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to German side Borussia Dortmund, with the Magpies unable to find a response to Felix Nmecha's first-half strike.

A riveting start to the game saw a flurry of early chances at St James' Park, but it was Nmecha's delightful cushioned effort just before half time that gave Dortmund the lead.

Despite plenty of endeavour in the second half, Newcastle couldn't find an equaliser, stumbling to a first European defeat of the season. The result leaves Eddie Howe's side in third after Paris Saint-Germain beat AC Milan in Group F's other match of the evening.

The feverish atmosphere inside St James' Park was matched by lively starts from both sides, Donyell Malen testing Nick Pope at one end and Anthony Gordon unleashing an effort that Gregor Kobel rebuffed shortly afterwards.

The Newcastle goalkeeper was in action again with ten minutes on the clock, producing an outstanding double save to deny the visitors, while Gordon saw another shot well stopped just moments later after Alexander Isak sent him through on goal.

A frenetic start to the match began to take a more manageable shape as the half wore on, with Dortmund growing into the contest. Both teams looked sharp going forward as the Toon crowd continued to roar at every opportunity, but neither could produce the killer blow in the final third.

That was until Dortmund cut through Newcastle on the break as the clock struck 45 minutes, Gordon robbed of possession in the centre of the park. Nico Schlotterbeck burst down the left-hand side, cutting back for Felix Nmecha to caress home beautifully from just inside the area.

The relentless start to the first half was replaced by a more composed opening ten minutes in the second,