Half time:  Newcastle 1 Tottenham 0

Full time:  Newcastle 1 Tottenham 0

Souness commented:

"I am absolutely delighted to be in the semi-final of the FA Cup. Two months ago, we would not have won that game, but there was a dogged determination about us today individually and collectively not to be beaten, not to concede anything.

"Shay (Given) was outstanding on three or four occasions and we have to thank him for being in the next round of the FA Cup.

"It was a fantastic cup-tie. Tottenham are entitled to feel hard done by. We bossed it for 20 minutes, then I think they had most of the ball after that.

“We had Jermaine Jenas at left-back and for certainly all of the second half, we found ourselves on the back foot, other than the times when we could have sewn it up, three or four occasions when we broke and got into great positions and our final ball was not accurate enough.

"I think the game in midweek has taken its toll more than I thought it would. Maybe the atmosphere we were involved in on Thursday night was new to some of players and I think emotionally that may have drained some of them.

"We knew that Titus (Bramble) was sooner or later going to need an operation and we were hoping that we would get away with it until the end of the season, but it has not turned out like that. He will be an enormous loss.”

Shay Given added:

"The win was not just about me and the saves I made. It was about the team showing a lot of spirit and having the will to win.

"When Robbie (Keane) hit the first shot, I was happy to keep it out. The ball bounced down for (Jermain) Defoe to have another go and I was just pleased I was able to get back into position in time to get the ball away a second time.

"People will say that's my job, that's what I am on the pitch for, and I do my best to keep the ball out of the net. Those two are world-class strikers and you've always got to be on your toes against them.

"It's only natural that a bit of tiredness crept in after the tough week we'd had, but we stuck together, dug deep i and ground out a very good win.

"How far can we go in the cup? Who knows? We haven't been to Cardiff before, but we're hoping it will be kinder to us than Wembley was in the past.

"I've only seen the stadium on TV, but it looks special and with thousands of Geordies going down there will be some atmosphere against whoever we play.

"Your name is not on the cup until you actually lift it. Arsenal and Manchester United are still in it, and they'll want to win it, but if we have everyone fit then we've always got a chance of beating any side on our day."

Tottenham boss Martin Jol said:

"Of course we are a bit frustrated and disappointed. It's always dangerous to give your opinions straight after the match but today was all about decision making.

"The referee had to make two penalty decisions and a big decision on Anthony Gardner. The first one the player was rolling over the ball, you can give that, but he looked pretty decisive.

"The second was handball, Bowyer in the box, and again it went their way. Anthony Gardner, perhaps he pushed him a bit but you can give that goal as well.

"It's a very tough job but you have to make decisions, these decisions didn't go our way and that's disappointing"

“Six bookings, I can appreciate, but it is symbolic for the whole game. Even the bookings – they had two, I think – and there were two penalty decisions he had to make and he had to make a big decision on Anthony Gardner.

“You win some and you lose some – that is a nice phrase, I have learnt it in England – but we could not win a lot with the referee today." 

Ledley King complied with the traditional footballer's present tense descriptive style when he commented:

"We started a little bit shaky and conceded a goal, which I am disappointed with. I've gone in, I thought Shearer was going to go in as well and it has kind of ricocheted into his path and we were punished from there.

"After that we bossed the game really and I think it was a game where if we had scored one we would have gone on and won it. After playing so well we are so disappointed to have got nothing from the game.

"It was a good performance by us, we had a lot of young players out there and Newcastle have got some experienced players. We dominated the game and that is not easy to do here - but they have won it."

Simon Davies added:

"The boys did superbly. It was the early goal in the first half that let us down, it shocked us into life and we had so many chances.

"It just didn't happen for us, we are gutted and I can't really describe how I feel, to be honest.

"Even at half-time we felt we would go on and score two or three. Every time we got the ball down we were opening them up and creating chances, but just couldn't put them away.

"We are all so disappointed and can't do anything about it now. We needed that first one to go in and the keeper pulled off a few good saves.

"I don't think you can ask any more of the lads though in terms of effort."
 

Stats

Alan Shearer played his 350th Newcastle game. United recorded their 99th home FA Cup victory and are now unbeaten in all competitions to 10 games, the last 7 of which we've won. Patrick Kluivert scored his 11th goal since he came to England: 5 in the UEFA Cup, 4 in the Premiership and now 2 in the FA Cup. They have come from 22 starts and 6 substitute appearances. One non-stat to record - Skysports told viewers in the preview of this tie that we were unbeaten in our last 15 home cup games - for some reason they ignored our extra time loss to Chelsea in the League Cup earlier this season, since when we've drawn one and won four ties on Tyneside. Amdy Faye has played 9 games for United now and has yet to taste defeat. We last lost an FA Cup tie at home in season 1996/97 when Forest beat us 2-1. Since then we've won 13 and drawn 3: Stevenage won 2-1 Shearer 2 Tranmere won 1-0 Shearer Barnsley won 3-1 Ketsbaia, Speed, Batty Crystal Palace won 2-1 Speed, Shearer Bradford City won 3-0 Hamann, Shearer, Ketsbaia  Blackburn drew 0-0 No scorer Everton won 4-1 Ketsbaia 2, Georgiadis, Shearer Spurs won 6-1 Shearer 2, Speed, Dabizas, Ferguson, Dyer Sheffield Utd won 4-1 Shearer, Dabizas, Ferguson, Gallacher Aston Villa drew 1-1 Solano  Crystal Palace won 2-0 Shearer, Acuna Man City won 1-0 Solano Arsenal drew 1-1 Robert Coventry won 3-1 Shearer, Ameobi, Babayaro Chelsea won 1-0 Kluivert Spurs won 1-0 Kluivert

Waffle

We're getting good at this.

Turn up, score a goal and then defend as if the players' families have been kidnapped by the club. Celebrate, go home, do it again. 

They may currently be filming some football movie around the place, but after another epic ninety minute feature before a packed house, then perhaps the producers should be contemplating a remake of "The Greatest Story Ever Told". 

Or maybe it's all just a gigantic scam for the cameras and we'll wake up in the shower on May 22nd and find none of this actually took place.....

We had no right to win this tie, frankly.

Seven games in three countries in 25 days. Back in the country in the early hours of Sunday and with a mini-crisis in defence that saw Bramble patched up to play and Taylor and O'Brien unable even to be risked on the bench.

Battered by the Greeks, we were then worked over more legally by a lively Spurs side who moved off the ball as well as any side to come to Tyneside this season but thankfully didn't always thread their passes sufficiently.

But we emerged unbowed, thanks to a classic backs-to-the-wall performance in which we found strength across the park and inspiration when it mattered. 

Some vintage Dyer unsettled the opposition from the start and arguably won us the game as he teased first one and then two defenders down the right. A double save from Given brought a spontaneous ovation from the crowd, while one late classic shimmy from Milner drew a vital foul and free kick which finally calmed black and white pulses.

We'll not mention the late twisting, turning and tumbling from Shola that twice brought toon fans to their feet - and twice had them punching advertising hoardings in frustration......   

If one was looking for signs of the satisfaction and fulfilment that this result gave the players, then the evidence was plain to see at the final whistle as handshakes and bear hugs were traded between our lads.

Whether it was the beaming Alan Shearer with chin plastered, the ecstatic Stephen Carr or the thoroughly chuffed Shay Given (on as much of a trophy countdown as the number nine if one reads between the lines of his quotes) the message was the same.

And that is starting to be echoed by at least those supporters in the ground, with relief and exultation flooding from the stands when Styles blew his whistle for the last time.

Reality of course intruded in this happy ending courtesy of Trevor Brooking a few hours later, as Souness was denied a third consecutive crack at a former employer and instead, has now to try and outwit the current cup holders.

But if nothing else, our current manager now emulates his Dutch, Scottish and Durham predecessors in taking us to an FA Cup Semi Final, which may earn him some grudging praise in certain quarters - and the funds to continue his rebuilding in time for next season.

Thankfully we seem to be firmly in the driving seat against Olympiakos (although the lesson of Partizan needs to be heeded), which leaves the visit to Fratton Park on Saturday before a massively well-earned two week break from club action.

Whether we can take anything from a game that is vital for Pompey remains to be seen, but we certainly could be excused for a dip in our performance as our exertions start to catch up with us.

How this is all going to pan out is anyone's guess - alive in two cup competitions with yet more foreign adventures possible, league points to be scrapped for and that match in Cardiff. 

The tragedy would be if we were to be victims of our "success" and ran out of time and luck in the hectic last seven weeks of the season. Precisely when we'll get to host the smoggies and travel to Fulham remains uncertain but could well be in the final week of the Premiership season. Mental.

But this increasingly unexpected season doubtless holds more twists, turns and intrigue before we finally get to the end of the road. All we can ask from the team is that the current effort and unity are maintained, while hoping that our momentum and occasional inspiration continue - and injuries don't rob us of the chance of realising our potential, especially with that international Easter double header for some.

In turn, support, encouragement and positive thinking from us lot are required - a bit of unity off the pitch for the common cause and exercising of the throat. 

We now have something more tangible to look forward to than the prospect of Shearer breaking our scoring record as the season petered out into mid-table nothingness. For that if nothing else, be grateful to Souness for galvanising the troops into a fighting unit and allowing us to keep dreaming. 

Biffa


This report is respectfully dedicated to Leazes Ender Billy Carroll, who passed away in the early stages of this game. 

Glaswegian Billy's first love was Celtic but like many, the black and whites got under his skin and he was very much an adopted Geordie. 

He leaves behind his wife Rose and two sons, Paul and Ian.

PS: Ian would like to record his thanks to Newcastle United for the efforts made to save his father and the support he's subsequently received from St.James' Park.

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