Cambridge United match-winner Joe Ironside as soon as idolised Alan Shearer and would journey up from his native Middlesbrough to look at his hero. Both of these can be higher than what Newcastle have in assault proper now.
Take nothing away from Mark Bonner’s League One aspect. They had been wonderful and deserved what ought to rank as a real FA Cup upset, given the hosts named their strongest accessible XI – together with £12million debutant Kieran Trippier – and had been backed by a sell-out crowd.
However Newcastle had been woeful, particularly within the remaining third the place 24 pictures handed with out conversion. A minimum of Ironside or Shearer – a lower-league journeyman and long-retired membership legend – would symbolize a recognised striker with some data of the function.
Cambridge United gamers have a good time after Joe Ironside’s purpose places them in entrance towards Newcaslte at St James’ Park
The Cambridge United No 9 scuffed dwelling the unfastened ball contained in the Newcastle United field within the second half
Ironside appears to the 5,000 travelling followers inside St James’ Park as he celebrates placing the League One aspect in entrance
As an alternative, Eddie Howe used two wingers and a wing-back within the place that should now rank as their high switch precedence with the injured Callum Wilson going through months on the sidelines.
Ironside will take the headlines for his close-range end on 56 minutes, however goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov was undoubtedly Cambridge’s man-of-the-match.
The primary half felt like capturing apply at instances for Newcastle, and boy do they want it. Sure, Mitov performed just like the proverbial cat, however the Premier League aspect had been as weak as kittens in entrance of purpose.
That they had their club-record signing on the sector, a participant who arrived as a £40million striker. However right here was a reminder as to why Joelinton has regarded way more snug as a midfielder beneath Howe in latest weeks.
Jacon Murphy was responsible of lacking Newcastle’s finest possibilities within the first half, and in addition noticed one dominated out by the linesman
Newcastle debutant Kieran Trippier noticed his first recreation for the membership spoiled following his transfer from Atletico Madrid
Allan Saint-Maximin makes an attempt tries his luck from the sting of the realm within the second-half, however can not discover the goal
Twice he discovered himself free inside the realm within the opening 20 minutes however, on each events, he elected to move. And move poorly, too.
Allan Saint-Maximin had began because the lone frontman earlier than wing-back Jacob Murphy had a go. He, in equity, no less than obtained into positions to attain, even when he by no means actually regarded like doing so.
Mitov blocked Murphy’s goal-bound roller on 24 minutes and the makeshift frontman was once more denied by the Bulgarian earlier than the break. It regarded a sure purpose when he swept on the right track from eight yards however the effort gave Mitov half an opportunity and he took it, in some way clawing clear contained in the goalmouth.
However the most effective save of the half arrived in stoppage-time when Murphy drilled for the highest nook just for Mitov to brush towards the crossbar. The keeper wore a smile as vast because the Tyne and so he ought to.
Triipier takes cost of a dead-ball state of affairs in entrance of purpose however can solely drive the ball into the Cambridge United wall
Eddie Howe speaks to his assistant Jason Tindall as they watch their aspect battle towards the aspect two divisions under them
Eleven minutes into the second half and there have been 5,000 beaming faces within the away finish excessive above the Leazes Finish purpose into which Ironside hooked dwelling after a recreation of pinball contained in the six-yard space.
Newcastle’s response was limp and solely within the 94th minute did they seem like forcing extra-time when Joelinton met a nook and headed on purpose.
But it surely ought to have come as no shock when Mitov prolonged his fingertips and diverted over the crossbar. In fact, it could have been an injustice had it gone in.
Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan (second left) was alongside Amanda Staveley to look at the FA Cup third spherical tie