Allan: We’ll send Toon crazy with Cup glory
ALLAN SAINT-MAXIMIN wants to send Newcastle “crazy” with a long run in the FA Cup.
The French winger’s stunning extra-time winner at Oxford earned Steve Bruce’s side a tie at West Brom – the first time the club have been in the fifth round for 14 years.
A £20million summer signing, Saint-Maximin was given a bizarre demonstration of just how fervent Geordie supporters can be when a fan greeted his strike with an x-rated celebration.
Mad Max wants to be part of a side that strives to make fans happy, including keeping their FA Cup challenge rolling.
He said: “First time in the fifth round for a long time. That’s why I tried to do everything to get my goal.
“That is why I went to the fans, and I know it’s important to make some history for the club.
“I know from the past that if you do everything well, Newcastle can be crazy, and we want to do everything to make this happen.”
Saint-Maximin is Toon’s most unpredictable danger man, with tricks and pace, but he admits he has to deliver more end product.
He has two goals in 13 starts since arriving from
Nice. He said: “I’m happy to score because it’s an important goal. I have to score more and give more assists.
“But don’t concentrate on my goal. The team gave me space and I scored in the last minutes.”
He reckons Newcastle had to finish the tie before it went to spot-kicks and added: “We are happy to win. We worked a lot. Penalties would be difficult because it is a lottery. We can’t be winning 2-0 then end up losing to Oxford.
“Sean Longstaff also scored a really beautiful goal.
Think about the team running a lot and working, not my goal.
“We play West Brom next and have to learn. It’s difficult to win a game in the FA Cup. The atmosphere is different. Different pitches and every game is a final.” Boss Bruce (left) has given his players the week off after 11 games in 40 days, and a visit to Arsenal to follow.
He joked: “I’ve had enough of the players and they have with me! They can go and see family, find the sun, have six days off, then we will go to work again.
“It’s been a long time since we have been past the fourth round. We go to West Brom and after that if we can win you never know what will happen.
“When Oxford came back to 2-2 I was just thinking this is the FA Cup. Complete control, then they score twice. Top corner and a wonderful volley. Then we needed Matt Ritchie to save us with a wonderful lastditch tackle.
“This is Newcastle United! “I learned at Hull the FA Cup is a bit special. We won two or three games then it’s quarter-final, semi-final, final. That will rank with the fans. It’s one of the great occasions.”