Miguel Almiron netted a first half brace as Premier League Newcastle United saw off a late rally from Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns to progress into the Quarter Finals of the Emirates FA Cup.
The hosts made several changes for this tie, as did the visitors, but this was probably because the home side had bigger things on their mind, i.e promotion to the Premier League, whilst Toon were still fielding a pretty strong eleven as they feel they realistically have a decent chance of reaching Wembley.
The Baggies had already seen off Premier League opposition in West Ham United on route to this stage, whilst Newcastle had to fight off League One Oxford United over two close encounters to get to this stage, so this was billed by many as a potential cracker in the West Midlands.
Whilst reading through the matchday programme prior to this contest, a quote was pointed out to me by two gentleman sitting at the table I was on in the Richardson Suite (which by the way was a amazing experience so thank you) and it read ‘It would be more satisfactory if the Press would adhere to a policy of reporting facts and not the whimsical thoughts of their Sports writers’, well rings true doesn’t it!!! We all had a laugh over it, and I promised them I’d include this in my blog!!!
Anyway, to the game which is what I’m here about and their was an early chance for both sides, the visitors pouncing on a poor defensive pass but failing to capitalise, and then the hosts saw an effort beaten away by Karl Darlow in the Toon goal, before Newcastle chased down a ball to the by line and the eventual cross was headed off target.
Toon attacked again and a terrific run by Joelinton saw him burst into the box and cut onto his right foot but saw his near post effort saved by Jonathan Bond in the Baggies net, and then a visitors corner saw Joelinton head back into the path of Sean Longstaff but his effort was wayward and no trouble for the hosts.
Allan Saint-Maximin then almost gave Newcastle the lead in spectacular style when thumping a terrific long range effort off the post with Bond nowhere near it, whilst down the other end Darlo had to make a smart stop to deny the hosts as the game reached the half hour mark goalless.
But, in the 33rd minute that changed as Newcastle deservedly went in front as a lovely pass from Saint-Maximin found Almiron in on goal, and the attacker fired into the far corner to send the 5,000 strong visiting support wild.
The Baggies tried to respond and sent a dangerous ball into the box but it was too high, and the hosts found themselves further behind in first half stoppage time when a cutback found Almiron whose rifled home his second of the contest and Newcastle went into the break in control and two goals to the good.
Half Time West Bromwich Albion 0 Newcastle United 2
West Brom needed the next goal you felt if they were to get back into this contest, but the second period started disastrously as poor defensive play from the hosts allowed the visitors into the box and a cutback saw Valentino Lazaro bundle home from a yard out, and you felt Newcastle may go on and win big now.
The Baggies really needed a goal now and saw a lofted header cleared away from the far post, before Toon almost got in again via the brilliant Almiron, but his square pass was just about intercepted by Bond who managed to scramble away with the help from a teammate.
The hosts then sent a ball into the mix again, but a weak header went well wide, before another good chance from Albion saw a cut back strike a defender and fly across goal and away for a corner, but the game was coming up to the hour and Toon were still fairly comfortable with their three goal lead.
Sean Longstaff then sent a daisy cutter at the hosts goal which was straight at Bond, before the hosts then rifled over at the other end, and then Charlie Austin, who had been pretty ineffective for the hosts, played a decent ball into the box but no one gambled, and the ball drifted away for a goal kick.
The visitors then broke up a host’s attack before counter attacking at pace through Almiron (who else!!!) and after he laid the ball off to Joelinton, he saw an effort blocked, and then moments later a ball forward almost saw the visitors get on the end of it but Bond came out to thwart them.
As the game entered it’s final twenty minutes the hosts began to finally get going, and they almost pulled one back but saw a deflected effort thump off the bar, but in the 74th minute they did find the net to give them a slim hope of a comeback when Matt Phillips thundered an effort in off the bar.
Bond then had to beat away a thunderous effort from the visitors, but the hosts now had their tails up and sent a long range effort flying towards goal, but Darlo saved, before a corner almost was flicked in at the near post but saw a relieved Darlo claim.
The Baggies then so nearly grabbed another when a goal bound effort was brilliantly cleared off the line with five minutes of normal time left, before Albion then fired wide soon after as the visitors breathed another sigh of relief.
Fabian Schar then burst through for the visitors but saw his effort beaten away by Bond, and in stoppage time the hosts pulled another one back when a cut back saw Kenneth Zahore convert from close range, and West Brom had around a minute or two to complete a remarkable comeback.
And the hosts were screaming for a penalty but saw their claims waved away as Newcastle were now clinging on, but they managed to see it out and take their place in the last eight. Toon made it harder than it should have been after dominating for two thirds of the game, but fair play to The Baggies who at least made it interesting till the end.
Full Time West Bromwich Albion 2 Newcastle United 3
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