They were treated to a decent start by the home side, who then promptly disappeared from view for 20 minutes, and could have been on the wrong side of a cricket score before the half-time whistle was blown. A fair few Coventry players looked as if they did not believe they were entitled to be on the same pitch as Newcastle.

A desperate lunge on Tabb could have earned the home side a penalty after eight minutes, though neither Tabb nor supporters appealed (Though TV replays suggest they perhaps should have!). Mifsud panicked Newcastle's No. 12 into a hurried clearance on 19 minutes, while the same players run and shot saw Given dive low to his right to smother the effort.

While attacks were being started by the home side, Morrison was clearly getting frustrated at the lack of support from his team-mates, and was often seen gesturing for them to move forward and give him some options. Minutes later, with the home side playing for off-side, Milner's cross was fired home by N'Zogbia (Without a goal for almost a year), despite there being four defenders in close proximity.

On the half hour mark two more chances were created and missed, before Newcastle had a big shout for a penalty turned down. Again, TV replays suggested this was the wrong decision!

Milner then scored a carbon copy of Eastwood's goal versus Barnsley, with his cross deceiving everybody and ending up in the Coventry City net. Said goal was classed by many as Marshall's fault, and minutes later he made sure the same mistake wasn't made again, making a 'especially for TV' save, when the ball would probably have gone out of play anyway!

The away fans began singing 'That's Why You're Championship', though there were times when Coventry looked more League Two, with the display nowhere near the dizzy heights shown versus West Ham last season....

A class strike from Morrison into first half injury time gave Coventry hope.

Newcastle started the half on the attack, seemingly walking past Jay Tabb to set up a chance. Minutes later Morrison's turn and shot went just wide of the Newcastle goal. Despite a big improvement, Coventry were still mis-placing to many passes, something they don't often get away with against Championship opposition, so were even less likely to get away with against Premiership opposition!

A feature of this match - and to many others involving Coventry City - was the lack of an outlet on corners. One such occasion saw a quality clearance on 65 minutes, which would have been perfect for somebody with the pace of Mifsud (Who against top flight opponents, seemed to be raising his game slightly .... again). Sadly, he was somewhere inside his own penalty area, rather than causing problems around the oppositions.

With Doyle having replaced Beuzelin, and Gray (Who received a few boos) replacing McKenzie, Newcastle brought on Michael Owen.

Marshall spilled a shot, which was hacked clear by his defence, before Fox received a belated booking, after looking as though he might just get away with a bit of 'naughtiness'!

With many supporters having already made for the exits, and the game into added time in added time, one final Gunnarsson throw-in was met by Dann, who gave Given no chance! Newcastle's supporters were silenced, with Coventry's supporters slightly noisier(!), while Kevin Keegan looked on dis-believingly, questioning where the extra time had come from!

The first period of extra-time saw what looked like a foul on Mifsud ignored by the referee, and seconds later Marshall was picking the ball out of the net again. Whether or not Owen was offside, the goal was given, though he should not have been given so much time and space, while Marshall should perhaps also have done better.

A Simpson effort brought a fine save from Given, while Ward also hit the bar with a header (Again, he perhaps should have done slightly better). Two more Simpson efforts could have brought rewards, but Newcastle held on for victory.

Team: Marshall, Hall, Fox, Ward, Dann, Mifsud, Beuzelin (Doyle 62), Gunnarsson, Tabb (Simpson 89), McKenzie (Gray 73), Morrison. SNU: Ireland, Turner, Thornton, Clarke.

[ Only a week late with this report!! Apologies.... ]

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