An unconvincing performance saw Newcastle need extra time and penalties to beat Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup Fifth Round.
Anthony Gordon’s second half goal was cancelled out by a Sammie Szmodics tap in before penalty hero Martin Dubravka was the difference in the shootout. It wasn’t pretty and the performance was a concern after we hoped for a real response to Saturday’s beating at Arsenal, but we’re into the quarter finals!
Eddie Howe made five changes from the team that were humbled in the capital, with Joe Willock making a long-awaited return to the starting line-up.
Newcastle were frustrated by dogged Rovers defending throughout the first-half and were hit on the break a few times. Championship top scorer Szmodics came the closest to breaking the deadlock in the first 45 minutes.
Howe’s Mags were never really close to scoring in the first-half and the final ball was always lacking, including uncharacteristically poor passing from Bruno.
A 60th minute goal mouth scramble could not even find the net for the Toon on what seemed to be heading towards a frustrating end to the game.
The Geordies kept knocking on the door and Gordon had several chances, culminating in the deadlock being finally broken. A lofted ball from Trippier through for Almiron on the right sent him beyond the defenders.
Almiron stayed composed and rolled it back for Gordon who slotted it home to a collective breath of relief from Magpies everywhere.
It felt like a huge goal, but it was a short lived relief. Blackburn were not giving up on the tie and Markanday forced a stunning save from Dubravka, who turned the ball onto the bar with Szmodics there to tap the ball in on the rebound.
And so extra time beckoned and the game stretched to a proper end-to-end cup tie. Although, the fact Blackburn were still in it at this point was particularly disappointing given their league standing.
Pears had a fine evening between the sticks for Rovers, making some top notch saves in extra time, including a frustratingly good double to deny Gordon and then Longstaff. Saying that, both really should’ve scored.
The Toon could have won it in the 20th minute of extra time after some brilliant footwork from Gordon in the box set the ball up for Bruno. He smashed the ball off a defender on the line and Barnes shanked the ball wide from a tight angle.
But penalties were needed and the lottery was decided by two crucial saves from Dubravka who stopped Szmodics and Hyam’s spot kicks after Schar, Bruno, Anderson and Gordon all converted in front of the travelling Toon Army.
So, we progress to the quarter final after a 4-3 penalty shootout win. Another unconvincing display, but we’re into the hat and one win away from the semis at Wembley.
The draw will take place at 7pm on Wednesday February 28.
A big moment from @HecoDubravka! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/LAB6jjTkQo
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) February 27, 2024
Well that was the most stressful birthday present I’ve ever had.😧😰
kimtoon(Quote)
Good that we got through, but really made hard work of it against a struggling team. But let’s get a home draw.
Kiddafromthetoon(Quote)
Happy birthday Kim! Have a good one!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
City Away. 🤬🤬🤬🤬 not one home draw in the FA cup. That will be our cup run over. I should’ve put money on it. I knew that’s what we’d get.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Yip earlier in the season the attitude would be ‘oh well, we have to beat the best if you want to win a trophy’ and of course that’s still true – but the belief that we will beat the best has some what faltered as the season progresses.
It’s a one off game and anything can happen, and who knows – maybe it’s the fixture the players lift themselves for 🤷🏼♂️🤞🏼.
We’ve got nee choice really coz we’ve had nee luck of the draw at all this season.
Sharpy17(Quote)
On last nights game – it was again very concerning just how many big chances Bburn had & how much we exposed Dubravka – who answered every question asked of him last night.
To balance it out though it must be said that their keeper was also their MOTM too.
Whilst very little was pretty about it, I had 3 big issues about our performance:
1. How slowly we now move the ball when we have it. The amount of sideways & backwards passes is so frustrating. I know we are trying to transition into a possession side but the problem with that is 1. That allows the opposition to set there defence & we don’t have the players to break them down and 2. The players we do have are perfect for that fast counter attack – Gordon, Isak, Barnes, Miggy, Murphy – all of them are just desperate for that ball played through or over the top to run on to – instead it gets played to the side or backwards & by the time it gets to them the opposition are ready for them 😡.
2. Our finishing was so poor last night. Yes we created chances & yes their keeper stood up – but the amount of chances that were played right at him was criminal.
3. This seemed to improve, but the set pieces early on were a joke. 3 big CBs on the pitch in Schar, Lascelles & Burn and we were messing round with short corners or little bits of nonsense they’ve obviously tried in training 😡.
Why we didn’t learn from Arsenal just to get a great delivery into the box & let the big lads attack it?!
Like I say, we seemed to realise it eventually & once we did it caused them problems – but there was definitely wasted opportunities in those early set plays.
I know it’s harsh criticism but I’m not sure what they are working on in training – it doesn’t seem to be defending as a unit, it doesn’t seem to be finishing and it doesn’t seem to be set pieces 🤔🤷🏼♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
City away, you couldn’t make it up.
kimtoon(Quote)
I see Howe said in his presser today that he’s disappointed by our recent home form & does feel we should be drawing against teams like Luton & Bmth – careful Eddie, you’re starting to sound like an entitled top 6 manager there pal 😂
Sharpy17(Quote)
LoL
PremAndUp(Quote)