Birmingham vs Newcastle LIVE: FA Cup result and reaction as Willock wins it late on for Magpies
Birmingham 2-3 Newcastle: Magpies recovered from conceding within 44 seconds to overcome the League One leaders
Joe Willock’s brace helped Newcastle United eke past Birmingham City in an FA Cup thriller to progress into the fifth round of the competition.
Birmingham took the lead inside a minute through ex-Man United prodigy Ethan Laird, who smashed past Nick Pope with the help of a deflection from Callum Wilson.
The Magpies then flipped the game on its head thanks to two goals that didn’t go without controversy from Willock and Wilson, with many questioning if Newcastle’s equaliser fully went over the line.
However, the highlight of the first half came when Tomoki Iwata leathered it into the top-right corner to draw parity for the Blues - an early goal of the tournament contender.
After a fiery second half, Willock’s second of the night sealed Newcastle’s win late on, ending Birmingham’s hopes of a major Premier League scalp in the cup.
Relive all the FA Cup action with our live blog below:
Birmingham 2-3 Newcastle
90+5 mins: Newcastle have nearly survived the first half of this mammoth period of additional time.
They’re just trying to tick the ball around - but possession is now at the tired feet of Birmingham. Let’s see what they can do with it.
Birmingham 2-3 Newcastle
90 mins: OFF THE LINE! Jacob Murphy breaks in behind with acres of space and has the perfect chance to finish it off.
However, he takes too long with it and despite getting around the keeper, he gives enough time for Ben Davies to scramble back and clear Murphy’s shot off the line.
That could’ve been it. Instead, Newcastle now need to hold of Birmingham for TWELVE added minutes.
Birmingham 2-3 Newcastle
89 mins: Big block from Hanley to stop Newcastle from taking the game out of sight, blocking Tonali as he ran on to shoot.
Fatigue has kicked in over the last 15 or so minutes for the Blues.
Birmingham 2-3 Newcastle
85 mins: SAVE! Nick Pope throws a vital leg out after a Birmingham corner sees the ball bounce towards the bottom corner.
Huge reaction stop.
GOAL! Birmingham 2-3 Newcastle
82 mins: GOAL! That might do it for the Magpies!
Joe Willock runs onto the loose ball on the edge of the six-yard box and hits it low through the keeper to re-establish Newcastle’s lead.
Heartbreak for Birmingham.
Birmingham 2-2 Newcastle
81 mins: Infuriation from the St. Andrews faithful after Sandro Tonali was dispossessed deep in his own half, only for the referee to take what felt like an age to bring it back for a foul.
Birmingham 2-2 Newcastle
79 mins: Longstaff receives the ball after Dowell completely mistimes his header at the back-post, but can only scuff his effort inside the box as the chance goes begging.
Up the other end, Dykes leaves a mark on Krafth off the ball - lucky that the referee didn’t spot that as it wasn’t half blatant.
Birmingham 2-2 Newcastle
77 mins: Birmingham are bringing their attacking reinforcements on as Lyndon Dykes and Alfie May enter the action for Keshi Anderson and Jay Stansfield. Those two have entertained today.
Krystian Bielik has also come on for Scott Wright.
Birmingham 2-2 Newcastle
75 mins: Willumsson is latest in the book for a cynical sliding challenge on Willock to stop him on the break.
Ben Davies also just escaped a card for a tackle from behind. It’s all getting a bit feisty.
Birmingham 2-2 Newcastle
71 mins: Keshi Anderson wants a penalty after a tangle of legs with Longstaff - it’s a tricky decision for the ref, who is eventually saved by the linesman’s flag which signals an offisde.
Moments later, Klarer clatters into Willock rugby-style and goes into the book. It’s turning into a bit of a yellow card-fest, with Willock also being cautioned minutes earlier.
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