Newcastle 3-1 Bromley: Miley and Osula stunners complete FA Cup comeback

Newcastle United are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup after a 3-1 win over Bromley at St James’ Park on Sunday.

It was a slow start that saw us go 1-0 down within eight minutes, but a Lewis Miley stunner, Anthony Gordon penalty and a second-half rocket from Will Osula rounded off another successful day for Eddie Howe’s Mags.

We were fully expected to win today, but that’s now EIGHT wins on the spin in all competitions, scoring 23 goals and conceding just two in that time. It’s been some month and it may only get better if we can make the most of upcoming league games against Wolves (H), Bournemouth (H), Southampton (A) and Fulham (H).

It’s no surprise to see wholesale changes, with Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Willock, Murphy, Isak and Gordon replaced by Trippier, Schar, Kelly, Targett, Longstaff, Lewis Miley, Almiron, Barnes and Osula.

U21 talents Trevan Sanusi and Alex Murphy also made the bench, with Alexander Isak and Sven Botman rested for next week’s league games against Wolves and Bournemouth after picking up niggles in Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Arsenal. One concern, however, was the absence of Joe Willock from the squad.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka – Trippier, Schär, Kelly, Targett – Miley, Longstaff, Joelinton – Almiron, Osula, Barnes.

SUBS: Vlachodimos, Tonali, Gordon, Hall, Livramento, Burn, A Murphy, Bruno, Sanusi.

Less than eight minutes in, League Two Bromley made a dream start, as Congreve held off Miley and fired past Dubravka from 20 yards to give the visitors a surprise lead.

That wasn’t in the script for the 50,000+ inside St James’ Park and it was almost 2-0 five minutes later, as Imray intercepted Kelly’s weak pass and shot just wide after bursting into our half.

Thankfully, after an awful start, we found a quick reply through a moment of magic from Miley. After almost setting up Osula with a lovely ball in behind, the 18-year-old Geordie picked up possession from the next attack and smashed in from 25 yards with a stunning hit straight into the top corner at the Gallowgate End.

We controlled the first half from that point onwards but created very little, other than Barnes’ low ball across the box that just evaded Osula. We had 87% of the ball and nine shots, but Miley’s was our only effort on target as we struggled to show the quality needed to break down their back five.

Miley was tidy in the middle of the park, Targett offered an outlet on the overlap and Trippier saw plenty of the ball, but there was a noticeable lack of quality from the likes of Longstaff and Almiron; two players who have often been guilty of struggling against low blocks.

Howe made two changes at half-time in a bid to liven up our attacking play and avoid extra time, seeing Bruno and Gordon replace Joelinton and Barnes – and it didn’t take us long to go ahead.

After Targett pounced on the loose ball from Trippier’s cross, he was clearly taken out and the referee pointed to the spot. Gordon stepped up and made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to score his seventh of the season and give us a 2-1 lead on 49 minutes.

The message from Howe seemed to be ‘move the ball quicker’ and we were doing exactly that, with Gordon and Longstaff both having efforts well blocked after we worked good scoring positions.

Big Will Osula had worked hard and held up the ball well without many clear sights of goal, but the Dane scored his first goal for the club with an absolute belter on the hour mark. After being slipped in down the right channel by Bruno, he carried the ball into the box, cut in on his left and smashed a thumping effort into the far top corner.

Newcastle 3 - 1 Bromley - Match Report & Highlights

A brilliant moment for a him, a reminder of why we paid £15m and a goal that put this tie to bed with half an hour to play.

Targett was the next to go close – he too almost scored his first goal for the club with a deflected strike from 30 yards – and Bruno also had a go, curling an effort wide of the far corner on 67 minutes as Howe prepare two more changes, seeing 17-year-old sensation Trevan Sanusi and Lewis Hall replace Osula and Targett with 20 minutes left to play.

Sanusi immediately showed his turn of pace without troubling them too much, then Bromley handed a huge moment to Levi Amantchi; the Newcastle fan hailing from Wallsend Boys Club who came on up top for the away side.

Our final change saw Sandro Tonali come on for the last five minutes, replacing Almiron for that may turn out to be Miggy’s last start for the club as rumours continue over a potential move back to the MLS or South America.

Away from the win itself, the big positives for me were no injuries, Miley’s assured display (and stunning strike!) from midfield, along with Osula’s first goal for the club; hopefully a taste of what’s to come if he can continue to develop under Howe’s guidance.

Up to fifth in the league, eight wins in a row, 90 minutes away from the Carabao Cup final and into the hat for the FA Cup fourth round draw.

Next up, two Premier League home games on the bounce, with Wolves and Bournemouth both to come next week.

Howay the lads!

 

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

8 thoughts on “Newcastle 3-1 Bromley: Miley and Osula stunners complete FA Cup comeback

  1. Today was one of those games – lose and everyone makes a big deal – win 8-0 and nobody gives a toss.

    I think Howe used the game in the right way. Rest some players, look at some fringe players and give a couple of youngsters a run out.

    For me – Barnes, Almiron, Target, Longstaff and Kelly were all poor.

    Osula played well but head & shoulders above the rest – Lewis Miley. That kid has a bright future I think

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  2. Job done and highlights were sweet strikes from miley and osula.
    Became a training match in 2nd half.
    Who knows what’ll happen with dubravka.
    Tarhett did enough to show he’s a decent back up to hall and he was strangely ignored by his teammates today
    Trippier showed he can back up livramento but with krafth coming back who’s cheaper and more ready to be backup, he may be on his way soon.
    Almiron, longstaff & Barnes look like they’re ready to leave.
    Jury still out on Kelly

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  3. Miley was outstanding and so cool and calm on the ball. At 18 that is remarkable and a star in the making.

    I feel a bit for Vlachodimos, he’s become a pawn in the PSR corruption game … I’m sure he’s a decent goalie, but just not what we need. If we’d got any player but a goalie from Forest, then quite possibly they’d have got game time, but we have 2 strong goalies and little opportunity for a third one to play. Maybe we should be selling him to Saudi.

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  4. Probably means we will blow it and lose… we often blow it when we have a chance to climb the table like this. Hope I’m wrong

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  5. Gilly Toon:
    Very good results for us tonight. We could go 4th if we win.

    Aye all those around and above the toon dropped points who can bring it even tighter up top and put some more distance to those chasing.
    Need to make it count Wednesday

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