Joe Willock scored twice, including a controversial opener, as Newcastle United came from behind to secure a 3-2 victory over Birmingham City and advance to the FA Cup fifth round.
Match Recap
Birmingham City made a dream start, stunning Newcastle inside 43 seconds:
- Keshi Anderson kept a corner alive at the far post.
- Ethan Laird’s volley took a huge deflection off Callum Wilson before looping into the net.
The hosts could have doubled their lead, but Nick Pope made a crucial save to deny Jay Stansfield.
Controversial Equalizer & Quick Turnaround
Newcastle responded in the 21st minute in bizarre circumstances:
- Willock directed a shot goalwards, and Bailey Peacock-Farrell appeared to claw it off the line.
- The linesman awarded the goal, despite unclear replays and no goal-line technology in use until the next round.
Just five minutes later, Newcastle completed the turnaround:
- Callum Wilson pounced on a loose ball in the box, scrambling home the Magpies’ second goal.
Birmingham Hit Back Before Half-Time
The League One leaders showed their fighting spirit, equalizing five minutes before the break:
- Tomoki Iwata unleashed a stunning strike into the top-right corner from the edge of the box.
Willock’s Late Winner
The second half saw fewer clear chances, but the game remained tense with heated challenges.
With eight minutes left, Newcastle found the winning goal:
- Sean Longstaff’s cutback was blocked, but the ball fell perfectly for Willock, who rifled home from the right side of the box.
Newcastle held on to secure their place in the FA Cup fifth round.
Data Debrief: Newcastle’s Cup Resilience Continues
- Newcastle have now reached the FA Cup fifth round in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-05 & 2005-06.
- This victory comes just three days after their EFL Cup semi-final triumph over Arsenal.
- Birmingham City’s 18-match unbeaten run across all competitions came to an end.
- The Blues have now failed to win any of their last 11 FA Cup games against Premier League opposition.
Final Score: Birmingham City 2-3 Newcastle United
