3 mins Lee Clark's ran into the Rovers from the right and tried a shot that deflected off the lurking Mick Quinn and looped into the net. 1-0

8 mins John Aldridge's knockdown from Dave Martindale's cross was volleyed home by Neil McNab from around 12 yards out, Pavel Srnicek well placed to deal with it but unable to do so. 1-1

19 mins Robbie Elliott's awful backpass from the left back position was seized on by John Aldridge, who threaded the ball home, Srnicek again making contact but failing to stop the goal. 1-2

24 mins Rovers goalkeeper Alan Nixon couldn't hold Andy Hunt's shot and Mick Quinn got ahead of a diving defender to smash the rebound home from close range. 2-2

Half time: Rovers 2 Magpies 2

65 mins Liam O'Brien's forward run and pass led to a cheeky chipped finish from Gavin Peacock that he would replicate almost exactly at Leicester in the final game of the season. 3-2

76 mins Confusion in the United area as Rovers attacked in numbers from the right, and a loose ball was dispatched in the top right hand corner of the goal by Jim Steel as Alan Neilson looked on. 3-3

Full time: Rovers 3 Magpies 3

94 mins A brainless waft of a back pass from Darren Bradshaw into his own box was absolutely suicidal when a goal poacher like John Aldridge was around. He duly took advantage of Srnicek's hesitation to chest the ball past the 'keeper and then walk it into an unguarded net. 3-4

96 mins Another assist for Aldridge, this time laying a pass off in the box for Dave Martindale to get ahead of Robbie Elliott drive home from close range, Irons crossing from the left initially. 3-5

104 mins A smart shot from Lee Clark nestled in the bottom corner of Nixon's net after Kenny Irons was hassled into surrendering possession by Quinn just outside his own box. 4-5

Half time of extra time: Rovers 5 Magpies 4

110 mins Clark's goalbound shot was diverted in by Gavin Peacock almost on the line, a great dummy by Quinn in the box opening up the initial shooting chance from Elliott's hooked ball in. 5-5

118 mins Alan Neilson went down under challenge from Branch in the Rovers box and Mick Quinn sent Nixon the wrong way from the resultant penalty and complete his hat-trick. 6-5

120+4 mins John Aldridge folded under contact from Neilson and another spot kick was awarded.
A trademark stuttering run up from the Rovers number 8 was enough to commit Pav to diving to his right and Aldridge simply slotted the ball home on the opposite side. 6-6

Full time of extra time: Rovers 6 Magpies 6

Penalty shootout:

Quinn missed (hit post) 0-0

Irons scored 0-1

Clark saved 0-2

Mungall scored 0-2

Roche scored 1-2

Hughes scored 1-3

Peacock scored 2-3

Higgins saved 2-3

O'Brien saved 2-3

Tranmere Rovers win

Ossie Ardiles:

"Going forward we were in a different class but defensively we were poor. We had the clearer chances and I believe we deserved to win.

"The referee played five minutes too much. Television had a clock running and I would like to see it, I believe we should have won."

Following his departure from SJP, Ardiles reflected that:

'It was a 6-6 draw. Our goals were beautiful, theirs weren't. We were playing good football but with too many youngsters. But the crowd never turned on me, and I'm very pleased for them. Newcastle could be as big as Manchester United, Liverpool or any club in the country.'

John King:

"It was a carnival night - I have never witnessed anything like it in my life.

"I did think the referee gave the Aldridge penalty at the end to make up for the one he had just awarded them. It was a giveaway night by everyone - including the referee.

"For a manager it was a nightmare. There were leaks in both defences and players did not have to work for goals. It was a great game for television and the crowd but not for the manager.

"Some people could have wandered in there and thought that's a good rugby match!

"We went off the rails tonight, it was just unbelievable. Some of the mistakes out there were schoolboy errors. The last time I was involved in a game like that was when Everton lost to Spurs 10-4 - but that was all one way traffic.

"You can't sleep after witnessing something like that. I just can't sweep it under the carpet. I'll have to take a day's rest away from it all; go and watch another match somewhere."

Magpies penalty failure Liam O'Brien later joined Tranmere.

For the second time in his Newcastle career, Mick Quinn scored a hat-trick but failed to take the match ball home with him. As was the case when he grabbed three goals away at Leicester City, a home player also did the same (it was David Kelly for the Foxes) and convention decreed that the home player was entitled to the prize.

With just a solitary league win in their opening ten games, it's fair to say that cup competitions weren't high on Newcastle's agenda in October 1991. 

Despite that though, Magpies boss Ossie Ardiles made just a single change to his starting XI for this ZDS tie, dropping loan forward Andy Walker to the bench and reinstating Andy Hunt.

United had lost an entertaining contest by the odd goal in five at Prenton Park barely a month before in Division Two, but this cup clash soon knocked that into a cocked hat. 

What remains one of the most amazing and error-strewn nights in our history remained level after 90 and 120 minutes, leaving Newcastle facing their first penalty shootout since the 1979 League Cup, when they were beaten by the mackems.

Less than a third of the 12,000 present for the league meeting bothered to attend the cup tie, but the presence of the TV cameras for a first-ever live transmission from Prenton Park added a layer of excitement to proceedings - albeit in a new-fangled, gimmicky approach from the broadcaster.

As they geared up for what would be a successful rights bid to transmit the impending FA Premier League, Sky took over British Satellite Broadcasting and poached former journalist Vic Wakeling from a TV news show in Hampshire to become head of live football at the re-titled BSkyB.

In his own words, the Geordie had "a deal to do some FA Cup ties, some internationals and a Scottish FA Cup deal, along with the Zenith Data Systems Trophy for the Football League."

His first choice to televise the latter was this tie, rather than Grimsby versus Wolves or Port Vale against Blackburn Rovers. They both finished up as 1-0 home wins, while this televised goal fest helped seal his reputation with Sky and he remained at their helm for many seasons afterwards.

Running well over their allotted slot, the simply-named Sky Sports (there was only one channel then) dispensed with their scheduled boxing in order to beam out the continuing drama.

Tranmere would go on to beat Grimsby and the smoggies before losing to eventual winners Nottingham Forest in the Northern Area semi-finals of the competition.

Rovers finished 14th, nine points ahead of Newcastle, who reached 20th under Kevin Keegan. The following season would then see a revitalised Toon complete a league double over the Birkenhead side en route to winning the title.

Biffa