IT’S SWEAT16 Toon survive scare to end horror run
STEVE BRUCE and Co scraped into the fifth round of the FA Cup after being given an almighty scare by Oxford.
Karl Robinson’s men took the Premier League millionaires to extra-time thanks to an incredible late comeback but Allan Saint-Maximin broke the League One club’s hearts.
This was, scandalously, the first time Toon had made it beyond the fourth round since 2006 and their reward for at last achieving that modest feat now is a tricky trip to West Brom.
The Newcastle list of misery in the FA Cup was a long one – defeats at places like Hereford, Stevenage and even Oxford, three years ago when they crashed at the Kassam Stadium 3-0, had left scars.
Bruce, however, fielded a strong side, and it took them only 15 minutes to make the breakthrough. Miguel Almiron
AET: 2-2 at 90 mins
crossed from the left, Joelinton laid the ball off, and Sean Longstaff took a touch before lashing the ball into the top corner for an excellent strike.
Joelinton, only 90 seconds later, then missed a glorious chance to make it two, when the £40m Brazilian somehow fired over from six yards out.
The Premier League side were moving the ball around well but the second goal came from an Oxford free-kick, as the outstanding Almiron won the ball, new boy Nabil Bentaleb played it over the defence, and Joelinton raced onto it to outpace Rob Dickie, and make no mistake for his third goal of the season.
It was his last act of the match, as he limped off injured.
U’s boss Robinson was booked for protesting there had been a foul in the build-up.
And his side almost hit back straight away, as Jamie Mackie and then Sam Long both went close.
But Oxford, six minutes from time, were suddenly back in it as substitute Liam Kelly saw his dipping free-kick beat Darlow to give Robinson’s side hope. And in the 94th minute, Newcastle failed to clear a free-kick, the ball fell to Nathan Holland on the edge of the area and the Oxford winger lashed a superb volley into the far corner for his first professional goal.
But Saint-Maximin had the last laugh, cutting in from the left and unleashing a shot which was past Simon Eastwood almost before he had even moved.
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