Perez’s brace keeps Newcastle off the back pages
RAFA Benitez did not want his side to make headlines here and this comfortable dispatch of League Two leaders Luton kept Newcastle out of the news, albeit for the right reasons.
Not since October have they enjoyed victory in front of their own fans, making an attendance of 47,069 all the more remarkable and the highest in the FA Cup at St James’ Park in 13 years.
Newcastle have not been beyond the fourth round in a decade under the ownership of Mike Ashley, but their fans’ loyalty was for once rewarded after a double from Ayoze Perez and a fine goal by Jonjo Shelvey.
‘I won the FA Cup at Liverpool and want to go as far as we can now. I wanted to be sure there was no surprise,’ said Benitez.
Luton did themselves proud, backed by 8,000 away fans. Boss Nathan Jones said: ‘We gave ourselves a mountain to climb conceding three poor goals in the first half, but we were a real attacking force after that. ‘We didn’t come here to park the bus and we had our moments. We had a goal wrongly disallowed at 3-1 and that could have changed the outcome.’
Benitez said he would name a strong starting XI and only debutant keeper Freddie Woodman was not a first-team regular. But it was Luton keeper Marek Stech who looked like the rookie. When Dwight Gayle drilled a free-kick on goal it looked as if the Czech would gather with ease. Somehow, the ball squirmed free and Perez hit home.
That was quickly followed by another. Again it was Perez following up after Stech parried Gayle’s header into the six-yard box.
There was nothing Stech could do about the third. Perez rolled to Gayle who in turn teed up Shelvey and he slotted into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Luton scored within four minutes of the second half when striker Danny Hylton skipped around a stranded Woodman 20 yards out.
Hylton had one ruled out by a linesman’s flag and substitute Elliot Lee — son of former Toon favourite Rob — cracked the bar with a wicked free-kick.
Lee Snr was in the crowd to see Elliot and eldest son Olly play for the Hatters. But, happily for Benitez, the Lee family only made headlines before the game.