Newcastle were sent crashing out of the FA Cup by
Birmingham City in their third round replay at St James'
Park.
Gary McSheffrey's assured finish put the Championship leaders ahead
and it was 2-0 when Nobby Solano put Cameron Jerome's cross into
his own net. James Milner replied from 30 yards but the Blues
quickly resumed control when Steven Taylor was sent off and Bruno
N'Gotty's fierce shot made it 3-1. Seb Larsson slotted home before
DJ Campbell ran clear to add a late fifth.
Newcastle's form has improved significantly in recent weeks but it
is back to square one for manager Glenn Roeder after this sorry
defeat. The same young Magpies team outfought Tottenham in a
thriller at White Hart Lane on Sunday but, while that performance
was full of verve and passion, this display was lacking in every
area.
Birmingham are flying high at the top of the Championship but they
will rarely have had such an easy first half as they did here.
Blues defender Matthew Upson has made public his desire to move to
a Premiership side during the current transfer window and he did
his hopes no harm with an utterly dominant display at the
back.
It was nothing but humiliation for Newcastle but Birmingham can
look forward to a home tie against another top-flight team,
Reading, in round four.
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Newcastle: Given, Solano, Taylor, Ramage, Huntington, Milner, Dyer,
Butt, Pattison (O'Brien 57), Sibierski (Carroll 80), Martins.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Edgar, LuaLua.
Sent Off: Taylor 58.
Booked: Taylor.
Goals: Milner 56.
Birmingham: Maik Taylor, N'Gotty, Martin Taylor, Upson, Sadler,
McSheffrey Kilkenny 88, Larsson (Danns 86), Muamba (Nafti 82),
Johnson, Campbell, Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Gray.
Goals: McSheffrey 5, Solano 45 og, N'Gotty 59, Larsson 83, Campbell
89.
