It was showbiz. And most definitely not Crawley at home in League One.
Birmingham City dimmed the lights just before kick-off and had a DJ perform rap music in the darkness whilst a few stray players wandered around. No Tom Brady, maybe, but St Andrew’s – a place where they wondered, a few years ago, if there really was going to be a future – sparkled to the light of smartphone torches and echoed to the most cacophonous noise.
This match represented ‘a precursor for the future’, the club’s interim chief executive had said in midweek. This club and this city would be ‘the football story of the next decade’ he predicted.
There was some decent football to back those bold claims up. A opening goal from the gods inside 43 seconds and performances from Tomoki Iwata, Keshi Anderson and Ethan Laird to push Newcastle hard. But it was not as emphatic as we had anticipated. Birmingham’s £15m striker Jay Stansfield – the jewel in their crown – did not deliver a shot in anger.
Newcastle know a bit about newly acquired wealth, too. It was their depth in reserve which took them to an FA Cup Fifth Round, to go with that Carabao Cup final.
There was a significant performance, and two goals, from Joe Willock in his difficult, injury-stained, stop-start season which had started with his expressing ambitions to play for England. There was a serious claim on more starts from the Danish under-21 international Will Osula, who really seized the night.
Newcastle booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a thrilling 3-2 win over Birmingham
Ethan laird shocked the Magpies as he gave Birmingham the leader inside 40 seconds
Newcastle got on level terms as Joe Willock’s strike was deemed to have crossed the line
These impacts were by no means instantaneous. Birmingham’s plan was to go like hell at a Premier League side featuring nine changes from the Carabao Cup win over Arsenal in midweek, and for a time it worked.
A mist cloaked the place when the lights went back up, you could see the steam of the players’ breath and Newcastle were stunned by what they first encountered. Not just an opening goal shipped in just 43 seconds amid some calamitous defending – Keshi Anderson granted the freedom of Birmingham to head Kieran Dowell’s corner back in for Ethan Laird, who was left at liberty to crack a volley which Callum Wilson sliced past Nick Pope – but attacking momentum which they struggled to cope with.
Scott Wright’s advance beyond Dan Burn – a loanee here 12 years ago – caught the eye. Wright desperately clung on to the Scot’s shirt as he span around him and took a yellow card. The quicksilver £1million Japanese Tomoki Iwata, a gem here all season, glittered at times.
It was a measure of Howe’s squad depth that Newcastle not only clung on but turned that setback into a lead. He had issued one of those warnings for his starters that this was a rare chance. Howe has not seemed ready to trust Osula, the £10m summer back-up signing from Sheffield United, and has indicated the player isn’t happy about that. Osula won’t die wondering about his third start of the season. ‘There are a few rough edges that we can improve but he is a massive player for us now and very close to playing,’ Howe said of him.
Birmingham seemed to fancy their chances against him when Cochrane upended him in the early minutes but 21-year-old drove against them with energy. His unpredictability is not always a good thing. You wouldn’t bet the house on him. But he was the least unhindered by the sound and fury all around. He was the one who squared for Willock to equalise after a driving run through Birmingham’s midfield by Callum Wilson, also seizing a rare chance here.
The equaliser was shrouded in chaos, with keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell adjudged by the assistant referee to have been behind his line when blocking Willock’s shot. A very close call, with no goal-line technology to rule on it. ‘It sounds like it was inconclusive and a bit harsh in that respect,’ Birmingham manager Chris Davies reflected.
Osula had strayed towards the path of Willock’s shot and almost conspired to blocked it. He was also involved five minutes later when Wilson beat the goalkeeper to a high ball, expertly navigating it in with his right boot.
Callum Wilson beat the goalkeeper to a high ball, expertly navigating it in with his right boot
Tomoki Iwata provided a moment of brilliance to equalise from distance after 40 minutes
Willock applied another finish in the 82nd minute to secure victory for Newcastle
Newcastle were wresting back control when Iwata provided a moment of brilliance to equalise – latching onto a ball headed out of defence by Matt Targett to beat Nick Pope from 30 yards. Better finishing from the home side would have put Newcastle on the back foot, because they certainly had other chances. Stansfield sent a chance wide from six yards a chance provided by Iwata. A huge moment. Wright was also unmarked at close range when he missed.
It was Newcastle who found a winner. Tino Livramento sent Sean Longstaff on the overlap, defender Ben Davies failed to proper block on the ball he slid for Willock, whose finish was sharp. A goal-line clearance from Davies prevented a Newcastle fourth on the breakaway.
Newcastle’s fans were quick to crow. ‘Premier League, you’re having a laugh,’ they sang as their team closed out the game. But ambition, wealth and imagination permeate this place. Birmingham will tell you that they’ve barely started.
