Rafael Benítez’s words and deeds give the distinct impression the FA Cup is a competition he can do without. Newcastle’s commitment to victory at Blackburn confirmed otherwise. The Premier League strugglers overcame the loss of a two-goal cushion and untimely injuries to secure their place in round four with a spirited win at Ewood Park.
Newcastle were taken to extra time by Tony Mowbray’s determined outfit – an exertion Benítez could also have done without – after Adam Armstrong and Darragh Lenihan cancelled out the visitors’ early advantage. They were made to fight to the last for a home tie against Watford but, despite the setbacks and an obstinate opponent, extra-time goals from Joselu and Ayoze Pérez brought welcome respite.
Mowbray was impressed with how his Championship side took Newcastle “out of their comfort zone and out of their rhythm for long periods” of the 1-1 draw 10 days ago. He sought a repeat with a bold 3-4-3 formation but the gameplan was disturbed with only 56 seconds on the clock as Benítez’s changes made an instant impact.
The Newcastle manager may have selected with Premier League safety and Saturday’s home game with Cardiff in mind but his makeshift team found their stride straight from kick-off. The two 21-year-old central midfielders in particular, Longstaff and Roberts, had cause to savour an open and entertaining Cup tie. Both scored their first Newcastle goals to give the visitors what appeared a comfortable advantage.
Longstaff’s debut strike stemmed from strong centre-forward play by Joselu. With the Rovers defence backing off Longstaff accepted the invitation to shoot from 25 yards and was rewarded when his finish deflected off Amari’i Bell and flew beyond the wrongfooted goalkeeper David Raya. It was the third fastest goal in the FA Cup this season.
They doubled their lead when Jacob Murphy latched on to Joselu’s flicked header and, despite appearing offside, went on to beat Ryan Nyambe easily before forcing a save from Raya with an angled drive. Raya’s parry rebounded to Murphy. He beat Nyambe once again for good measure and delivered an inviting cross from the right that Roberts, with a controlled volley, steered inside Raya’s near post.
At that stage Newcastle were coasting. By the time the whistle blew for half-time they were creaking. Armstrong became the third Newcastle academy graduate on the scoresheet, albeit for his new club, when Danny Graham prised open the visiting defence with ease. Holding off Federico Fernández, the former Sunderland striker released Armstrong into the penalty area with a perfectly weighted pass that he floated over Freddie Woodman as the young Newcastle keeper raced out to close the angle.
The flow of the tie turned in Blackburn’s favour. Darragh Lenihan was close to an equaliser with a towering header from Harrison Reed’s corner. Newcastle failed to heed the warning and, on the stroke of half-time, the pair combined again. This time Reed’s delivery was to the far post where Lenihan powered home a header into Woodman’s top corner despite the presence of two Newcastle defenders. Woodman’s disgust was plain as he exited for the interval.
Benítez would share his keeper’s anger, and not only over the disappearance of their early lead. His hopes of avoiding injury to key players by making eight changes for a Cup replay also lay in ruins within minutes of the restart. Lascelles was summoned from the bench during the interval with Ciaran Clark hobbling with injury. Within three minutes he pulled up with a hamstring problem but played on for a further eight minutes before being substituted himself.
Extra time brought more injury worries for Newcastle with Hayden and Fabian Schär both requiring lengthy treatment. They survived a scare when Rovers substitute Bradley Dack missed a glorious chance with only Woodman to beat but emerged victorious thanks to goals either side of the break. Joselu got the rewards his efforts merited when Raya parried a long-range effort from Schär into his path and he finished confidently.
Pérez, an extra-time replacement for Roberts, sealed victory when released clear down the right by Ritchie. The striker beat Raya with a rising finish into the far corner and Newcastle, finally, were safe.
Stoke stunned by Shrews
Nathan Jones’s first home game as Stoke City manager ended in a remarkable FA Cup collapse, with the Championship side going down 3-2 at home to Shrewsbury. The League One side were 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go but James Bolton, Fejiri Okenabirhie and Josh Laurent scored late goals to secure the Shrews a fourth-round tie against Premier League Wolves. Jones’s old side also went out of the competition, Atdhe Nuhiu scoring the only goal of the game as Sheffield Wednesday beat Luton Town at Kenilworth Road to set up a fourth-round meeting with Chelsea.