Quote:
Newcastle 1 Mansfield 0
Alan Shearer kept his last trophy dream alive by firing in a late winner against Division Two side Mansfield as Newcastle squeezed into the fourth round of the FA Cup.
And, of course, the goal took Al to the magic 200 league and cup goals, equalling Jackie Milburn's 49-year-old record.
Our bare bones squad just about did enough to see off the visitors although Mansfield may feel unlucky not to have left Tyneside looking forward to a replay at Field Mill.
The makeshift side, with Nobby Solano starting on the left, Lee Clark and Charles N'Zogbia playing down the middle and Martin Brittain down the right, lost a lot of the midfield battles and honours were even after a goalless first half.
Most of Town's efforts were from distance and although Luque found the side-netting and a Solano effort was blocked, we couldn't create many clear openings.
Former Newcastle youngster Adam Rundle went close after the break, forcing a decent stop from Shay Given before the returning Stephen Carr fired over from a tight angle.
Carr was replaced by Peter Ramage and Michael Chopra replaced Martin Brittain, allowing Solano to play down the right and Luque to drop back to the left.
Shearer had an effort blocked after a neat Clark and Solano exchange and then Luque fired a free-kick narrowly over minutes later.
Chopra almost deflected N'Zogbia's cross past Stags 'keeper Kevin Pressman but a post came to his rescue and then a mix-up between Given and Ramage left Stephen Dawson a chance to find the unguarded goal from 35 yards. Thankfully he mis-kicked.
But seconds later it was all over when Luque back-heeled a Solano pass to skipper Shearer who found the net with an angled drive from six yards.
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Looks like Souness has more than nine lives
So that's Barry, Clark and Shearer now...
If Shepherd really is a fan then he will know today was not good enough to have Souness.
Reports claims that Luque was booed off. ****ing disgrace by thoose who did it.