Plymouth 0 Newcastle o

02 January 2010 20:46
Newcastle have it all to do again a week on Wednesday after grinding out a hard fought draw at Plymouth in the third round of the FA Cup.[LNB] Boss Chris Hughton would have been looking to get the tie over at the first opportunity so he could concentrate on the club's Championship challenge. But the Magpies failed to find an opening at Home Park and will have to entertain Paul Mariner's Pilgrims at St James Park on Wednesday January 13, 7.45pm for the privilege of going into the hat for the fourth round.[LNB] There were few thrills and spills in the clash between the Championship's high flyers and the league's strugglers, although it would be fair to say Newcastle had the better of the possession, carved better openings, than their counterparts, and would have won had it not been for three inspired saves from Plymouth shotstopper Romain Larrieu As expected Hughton made several changes to the side which drew at home to Derby in the Magpies' last Championship encounter.[LNB] Tim Krul replaced Steve Harper in goal for his second start of the campaign. Tamas Kadar partnered Fabricio Coloccini at the heart of the defence, while Ryan Taylor slotted in at right back with Danny Simpson swapping full back berths to replace Jose Enrique at left back. Alan Smith returned to the team for Kevin Nolan alongside Nicky Butt. Danny Guthrie also returned to the side on the left for Jonas Gutierrez, while Fabrice Pancrate played on the right, with Nile Ranger partnering Shola Ameobi up front.[LNB] Ameobi was the pick of the first half setting up two gilt chances for Pancrate, while Guthrie went close with a couple of half chances. In defence youngster Kadar showed composure beyond his years as he strolled through the game and nullified any threat Pilgrims' pacey frontman Jamie Mackie posed.[LNB] The best opening of the first period came on the half hour where some neat midfield play saw Ranger and Ameobi swap passes 25 yards out with the later curling just over the bar.[LNB] The hosts then created a half chance which fell to Alan Judge, five minutes later, but he blasted over the bar from 25 minutes.[LNB] The Magpies did have the ball in the net, moments later, when Ameobi netted after Pancrate's effort came back off the post, but referee Alan Wiley believed the Frenchman had fouled Chris Barker.[LNB] Ameobi was at the heart of United's next move when he skinned the left back Sawyer and pulled back for Pancrate only for the winger to fluff his line and the goalkeeper gathered comfortably.[LNB] The visitors went closer again on the stroke of half time when Simpson stung the hands of Larrieu from the edge of the box, while Coloccini shot just inches wide moments later from a Guthrie free kick.[LNB] There wasn't much to set the pulse racing after the break with a scuffed Simpson effort being the highlight of the cup tie with 20 minutes to play as the match got bogged down in the midfield. Andy Carroll, Gutierrez and Peter Lovenkrands all came on in the second half and failed to lift the tempo, although Carroll had a great opportunity to score but headed straight at the goalkeeper with five minutes left.[LNB] But just as the contest was about to peter out Butt then brought a superb save out of Larrieu with a deft chip as the Magpies tried to find a way through in order to avoid a replay.[LNB] Unfortunately the visitors failed to find an opening and they'll have to face each other again.[LNB] Newcastle:Krul; Taylor R, Kadar, Coloccini, Simpson; Pancrate (Lovenkrands 78), Smith (Gutierrez 71 ), Butt, Guthrie, Ameobi, Ranger (Carroll 69) Subs not used: Harper, Enrique, Tozer, Donaldson Plymouth: Larrieu, Duguid, Fletcher, Clark, Mackie, Arnason, Fallon, Barker, Sawyer, Summerfield (Mcnamee 72), Judge ( Noone 89) Subs not used: Barnes, Gow, Saxton, Folly, Mason[LNB]

Source: Northern_Echo