Source: Daily_Mail
Northern Exposure: FA Cup shocks turn the hotbed of football into a laughing stock
One was unfortunate, two was ridiculous but three was just downright embarrassing. All three North East clubs crashed out of the FA Cup at the weekend and there is absolutely no excuse for it. Even Hartlepool crashed out at the hands of a former Middlesbrough striker. [LNB]With the exception of Pools, they all lost to teams well below them who they should all have defeated without any real difficulty, no matter what team was selected. For all three to fail so catastrophically defies belief for the self-proclaimed 'hotbed of football'. Laughing stock, more like. Not having one of them in the draw for the fourth round hasn't happened for nearly quarter of a century. [LNB]Not getting anywhere near silverware is depressingly familiar. Only Middlesbrough have anything to show for the last 38 years, when Sunderland last won the FA Cup, and their League Cup triumph was the first in their history. And in their present state, who knows how long the second will take. [LNB] Feeling blue: Newcastle suffered the humiliation of a cup exit at the hands of League Two Stevenage[LNB]Newcastle and Sunderland fans dream of cup glory every year, although on Wearside they all appear to have given up. [LNB]I had the misfortune of being at the Stadium of Light for Notts County's deserved win (unlike the majority of Sunderland supporters). Maybe they knew something the rest of us didn't. [LNB] Notts a good day: Sunderland were dumped out of the FA Cup at the Stadium of Light by League One County[LNB]But it was proof that the FA's overindulgence of games over Christmas and New Year has taken its toll onSteve Bruce's squad and their fans' pockets. Games are too expensiveand too frequent at such a costly time of year. And perhaps NottsCounty at home was too dear, as well as unappetising.[LNB] More from Colin Young... Northern Exposure: New Year's resolutions for the north east big three05/01/11 Northern Exposure: Barton, from villain to the man Newcastle can't lose22/12/10 Northern Exposure: Pardew better not promise that Carrolll is going nowhere14/12/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Farewell to Chris Hughton.... the dignified servant humiliated by Newcastle07/12/10 Colin Young: Why finding a No 2 for Hughton should be the No 1 priority30/11/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE: Newcastle pair Coloccini and Williamson pay for their moments of madness but Campbell and Taylor should fill the hole nicely23/11/10 NORTHERN EXPOSURE SPECIAL: Tony Mowbray looks to homegrown talent to get Boro out of the mire20/11/10 Northern Exposure: Steve Bruce and Sunderland saying sorry in the best possible way after their derby horror show16/11/10 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Injuries and Bolo Zenden'ssuspension forced Bruce's hand in his team selection but he still namedseven of his signings in his starting line-up. It was their chance,they blew it, simple as that. [LNB]Will we see some of them again? Hecouldn't even rest Jordan Henderson and Ahmed Elmohamady properly andthey added energy to a drab performance, and created chances whichshould have buried the League One battlers. Notts County came brimmingwith confidence and played like their manager. Sunderland couldn'thandle them. [LNB]It will have to be a very different team and performance on Sunday, but then we know that. And most of those who stayed away on Saturday would argue derby success, and three points, is far more important anyway. And they're probably right. It would just be nice to have one of the North East teams still in the biggest and best cup competition in the world. [LNB]Newcastle supporters unfortunate enough to be at Stevenage will expect a much improved display and know they will get one, because they cannot play that badly again. Ever. [LNB]They will travel to Wearside without Andy Carroll, which is a big blow, but leaves Alan Pardew with hungry strikers who have to relish the battle ahead against a defence which capitulated at St James' Park and may still have the scars of that day, despite a marked improvement since which has pushed them up the league.[LNB] It will be electrifying, tense andfull-blooded, and of course the whole region can't wait. It is derbyweekend, but as the rest of the country looks on at part two of thisbattle for bragging rights, they have every right to ask what all thefuss is about. [LNB]And for poor Middlesbrough, down atBristol City this weekend, and still not clear of a tough fight forChampionship survival, being a part of this annual North East bunfightmust seem aeons away. [LNB] Overhead kick in the teeth: Burton's Shaun Harrad sends Boro crashing out of the cup[LNB]Their sorry exit at Burton was a manifestation of the problems they face every week and the real worry is the impact it will have on their fragile confidence. [LNB]Tony Mowbray didn't need this defeat to underline the tough task ahead. Middlesbrough, and North East football, didn't need it, full stop. [LNB][LNB] Explore more:People: Tony Mowbray, Andy Carroll Places: Newcastle
