Magpies edge Blues in FA Cup thriller

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Newcastle edged past Birmingham City in a match at St.Andrews, securing a 3-2 victory to advance in the FA Cup.

The hosts took the lead inside one minute through Ethan Laird, before Joe Willock and Callum Wilson brought the tie back into the Magpies’ favour.

Tomoki Iwata then drew Birmingham level just before half-time, but a late Willock second meant it would be the Premier League side advancing.

Eddie Howe made nine changes to the side that beat Arsenal in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday night and the reshuffled visitors failed their first test in the opening minute.

A Birmingham corner was nodded back into the centre and Laird was on hand to fire home via a deflection off Wilson.

St. Andrew’s was bouncing and the home side almost made it 2-0 after 14 minutes courtesy of another set-piece.

Marc Leonard’s free-kick was helped on by Alex Cochrane for Keshi Anderson and his beautifully-timed volley from the edge of the area brought a brilliant one-handed save from Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.

Having looked disjointed and toothless in the first half of the opening period, Newcastle carved out a controversial equaliser from their first attack of note.

Wilson crossed from the left and, after William Osula pulled it back at the far post, Willock stabbed the ball goalwards with Bailey Peacock-Farrell making a save from behind the line.

The assistant referee was quick to adjudge the ball had gone in although replays were inconclusive.The goal deflated Birmingham and Newcastle capitalised by going ahead almost immediately.

Again there was an element of chaos about it as Wilson’s initial effort from Tino Livramento’s cross was blocked on the line by his own man in Osula before the former England striker poked home the rebound.

The home side were wobbling and the same assistant referee that had angered them earlier came to their rescue by rightly ruling out a Willock goal for offside.Birmingham had barely ventured into the Newcastle half for 20 minutes but they ought to have levelled out of nowhere.

Anderson escaped down the left and whipped in a perfect cross for Jay Stansfield but the £15million striker somehow planted his header wide from six yards when completely unmarked.

Scott Wright should have done better than scuff his effort straight at Pope following good work from Iwata, forcing the Japanese midfielder to take matters into his own hands minutes later.

Newcastle could only partially clear a cross from Birmingham’s left and Iwata latched onto the loose ball to fire a stunning shot into the roof of the net from 25 yards.

The second period started with Newcastle asserting control, dominating possession and keeping their hosts pinned back. However, a series of stoppages disrupted the flow, including a lengthy delay for Birmingham’s Leonard, who suffered a serious-looking leg injury after a challenge with Lewis Miley.

As play resumed, both teams struggled to carve out clear-cut chances amid an increasingly scrappy affair. The match became more physical, with a flurry of yellow cards issued to both sides as tensions rose.

Despite Birmingham’s efforts to push forward, Newcastle found the breakthrough in the 82nd minute. Willock, who had started the move, continued his run and capitalised on a fortunate deflection to slot the ball under Peacock-Farrell, restoring the visitors’ lead.

Birmingham fought hard to respond, launching long balls forward and pressing high in the final moments. A dramatic clearance off the line by Dowell denied Murphy a decisive goal, while Nick Pope produced a crucial save to maintain Newcastle’s advantage as stoppage time stretched beyond 12 minutes.

Despite their spirited fight, Birmingham ultimately fell short, and Newcastle’s Premier League quality shone through in a gritty, hard-fought second half that saw them progress to the next round.




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