Exclusive: Les Ferdinand says PSG win ranks among Newcastle's greatest, warns of 'flying' Borussia Dortmund

Newcastle’s Champions League thrashing of Paris Saint-Germain ranks among their best-ever results, but the Magpies can’t afford complacency against Borussia Dortmund, says Les Ferdinand.

Eddie Howe’s side stunned European football by dismantling the French champions with a 4-1 victory at St. James’ Park at the start of October.

Former Newcastle striker Ferdinand believes only a famous 3-2 Champions League win over Barcelona in 1997/98 can compare when it comes to the greatest European nights in the club’s history.

Asked in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports if the hammering of PSG ranks among Newcastle’s best wins, Ferdinand said: “Without a shadow of a doubt.

“Everybody will look at the game 20 years ago against Barcelona as being the iconic game up there, when [Faustino] Asprilla scored a hat-trick.

“But to be back in the Champions League, in the group that they are in, everybody knows what PSG have spent in recent years and what they’ve done.

“They’ve struggled to get across the line but are still seen as one of the feared teams in the competition.

“To do what they did to them up in Newcastle a month ago, I don’t think anyone expected it.

“I knew it’d be tough for any team to go and play at St. James’ Park and I’m sure it took PSG players by surprise. But I don’t think anyone was expecting the result.”

The result leaves Newcastle in a strong position in the so-called ‘group of death’ ahead of the visit of Dortmund on Wednesday, after they picked up a point from a 0-0 draw at AC Milan on the opening day.

Dortmund have earned one point so far, from a goalless draw at home to Milan last time out, but they are in fine form domestically, with five consecutive wins in the Bundesliga putting them two points off top.

“Wednesday night’s game is going to be a massive eye-opener about what Newcastle need to do," said Ferdinand.

"No-one was expecting them to have four points after two games. St James’ Park is an intimidating place but it’s important that they don’t get complacent and keep their eye on the job.

“They’re doing a great job at the moment in the league and in this competition, so it’s important that they don’t take Dortmund lightly.

“Everyone was talking about PSG and AC Milan, not many people were talking about Dortmund. But they’re flying in the German league so they’re not going to be pushovers.

“They themselves have an unbelievable atmosphere at their stadium so they’ll be prepared for what is to come.”

Newcastle had a stuttering start to the season, losing three straight games to Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton after an opening day win over Aston Villa.

But they have since bounced back and head into Wednesday’s game against Dortmund on an eight-match unbeaten run which includes six wins.

“I think this is the Newcastle we can expect to see for the rest of the season. They’ve hit form and they get results, they’re winning games and that breeds a load of confidence,” Ferdinand said.

“I think the dilemma was that last season they were really sound at the back, and this season they seemed to be leaking goals, although the personnel seemed to be the same.

“They seem to have corrected that and sorted that out, and now they’re reaping the benefits because they don’t give many goals away.”

A backline that has kept six clean sheets in the last eight games, conceding just three goals, has particularly impressed Ferdinand.

“When you’re defensively sound it gives your players up front the opportunity to go and nick a goal here and there, it gives the team a load of confidence,” he said.

“When you build a house, you make sure the foundations are secure before you build anything on top and that’s what they’ve done. At the back they look strong and solid.”

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