Osula fight and out-of-sorts Mag shines – Five takeaways from Newcastle’s 3-2 win at Birmingham

Newcastle United edged their way into the FA Cup 5^th round draw with victory against Birmingham at St. Andrews on Saturday evening. In a ferocious game, that often threatened to boil over, three scrappy goals from United secured the victory.

Two goals from Joe Willock and another from Callum Wilson cancelled out efforts from Ethan Laird and Tomoki Iwata as United kept their quest for a domestic cup double very much alive.

Here are our five key takeaways from the game:

1. Will Osula: Fire, fight and playing out of position

Apart from kicking the ball into himself prior to Wilson’s goal, the young Dane had a great runout. He bagged two assists (although he didn’t know much about the second), he wound up the opposition, playing with a real fire in his belly, and caused havoc down the right (out of position) when he hasn’t been fancied in his preferred position all season – which showed real character.

There were some doubts when Eddie Howe mentioned Osula’s ability to play out wide following the sale of Almiron and the lack of a replacement coming in, and despite it being League One level opposition, Osula put in his best performance yet in Black and White.

His quick feet, pace, big frame and determination gives Howe plenty to work with, but he also showed his ability to fight for the team and take a few kicks against a dirty Birmingham side.

2. Combating a vociferous atmosphere

Birmingham went all out for this 4^th round tie; there was a very American feel to the build up with a pregame gig, a light show and fireworks (I wonder if the match tickets were £5k a pop too, like the SuperBowl?)

It was misty, wet, loud; fans were throwing stuff at our players with Birmingham seeming to want to rile us up at every opportunity. Some of it was great, some of it was uncalled for, but it was a real slugfest and a decent watch.

The lads coped in the main (there were a couple who seemed to wilt in the intense atmosphere, Longstaff was slow and caught on the ball a few times and Targett looked like a player who had barely played in two years) but with 104 minutes played the lads fought hard and made it through to the next round.

3. Joe Willock: that’s more like it!

Willock has been out of sorts in recent months and offering very little from the bench, so last night felt huge for him.

The opening 45 was a much better performance from Little Joe as he scored, (although how the linesman decided it was fully over the line from his position, I’m not sure) made some penetrative runs, showed that burst of pace and worked hard playing out of position down our left. Willock has always had the running power to play on the wing and he made a more than decent fist of it.

He faded slightly in the second half after taking some whacks, but he was Johnny-on-the-spot to grab the third after some neat play on the edge of the box between Miley, Livramento and Longstaff.

He’s not a long-term solution out wide of course, and he’d much prefer to be playing in the middle of midfield but he’s willing to do a job for the team and he did it well on Saturday evening in trying conditions. It was great to see him back ‘at it’ after a stop-start season full of injuries and a lack of form.

4. Callum Wilson return from Injury

Playing in his first FA cup tie ever for United, the perennially injured England striker scored, put in a solid display and, more importantly, seemed to come through unscathed after playing 55 minutes.

Wilson, the gaffer and his teammate’s will be pleased and if James Bunce can work some sports science magic, and the 33-year-old can stay fit you would back him to score six or seven goals between now and the end of the season. But it’s a huge if.

5. ‘Second string’ get the job done

With a heavily rotated side (nine changes were made to the starting line-up) the game had the potential to be a massive banana skin especially with the more robust elements of Birmingham’s play.

A special mention to Emil Krafth who was solid and dealt with some rough stuff on the night. He brings a calmness to the back line and he’ a credit to personal/professional development, as you wouldn’t have said that three and half years ago.

Eddie Howe said pregame he had to rotate due to workload and a lack of squad depth. One of fans’ big worries following the closing of the transfer window was that said squad depth, so it was hugely encouraging to see that the ‘second string’ can do the job when it’s required.

The game was a great advert for the FA Cup and thankfully it didn’t result in a giant killing, as it may well have, after such a poor start conceding in the first minute.

And so, we go into the hat for the 5th round, let’s hope we get a decent home tie. HWTL