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League One side Oxford United took Premier League Newcastle to an FA Cup fourth-round replay with a battling performance at St James’ Park.
The Magpies named a full-strength team, with debutant Nabil Bentaleb forcing a good save from Simon Eastwood from 20 yards.
Newcastle striker Joelinton had two goals correctly disallowed for offside.
Oxford had the best chances to win the game in injury time, with Nathan Holland having a shot tipped over by Karl Darlow and Rob Dickie heading over the bar from the corner.
Newcastle at full strength but held again
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has a refreshing attitude to the FA Cup.
Having reached the 2014 final with Hull, he has targeted it as a tournament Newcastle can have a run in, admitting they are not going to win the league.
They have not reached the fifth round since 2005-06 and just as they did against Rochdale in the previous round, they will need a replay if they are to progress.
It was a celebratory atmosphere to start with – a 52,000 sell-out as rumours circulated about a possible Saudi Arabian takeover.
Bruce named his strongest side – with Allan Saint-Maximin returning from injury and causing Oxford plenty of problems – as well as forcing Eastwood into three saves.
Joelinton had his usual struggles in front of goal but found the net twice, though both while in offside positions.
They did have a strong penalty appeal on Joelinton in the first half, with captain Jamaal Lascelles heading over moments later.
Substitute Matty Longstaff went close moments after coming off the bench but in truth Newcastle did not do enough to win.
Oxford fully deserve replay – and it could have been better
Oxford have been excellent this season, although performances have dipped recently – with one win in six games including this one.
They played well, although were not at their best, and may feel this is a game they would have won a month ago.
They let Newcastle know they were in for a battle early on when Dickie and Joelinton clashed in an aerial challenge and both players needed bandages on their heads for the majority of the game.
Watched by the largest crowd they have ever played in front of outside Wembley, they had their first ever VAR moment when the video assistant referee checked out a potential Magpies penalty for a tackle on Joelinton, but the U’s escaped.
They contained Newcastle in the first half and created several match-winning chances in the second.
Marcus Browne will rue the moment he was sent in one-on-one by Alex Gorrin but shot straight at Darlow.
It could have been even better had Holland scored his first U’s goal in injury time – or Dickie kept his header lower. But the Oxford owners will not complain about Newcastle heading to town for a replay in front of a full Kassam Stadium. And Robinson will fancy his chances of winning that.
More to follow.
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