FA Cup - Peterborough U 2 Newcastle U 1: Thirty years on from Newcastle United's definitive FA Cup upset on the mud of Hereford's Edgar Street, the five-time winners of the trophy survived a similar surface and an almost comparable shock yesterday afternoon. But only just.
In a classic, wet, gloomy, muck-and-nettles Cup atmosphere, Peterborough United, two goals down at half-time and 56 places and two divisions below Newcastle, staged a comeback that had memories of Hereford flooding back.
A walloping own-goal from the Newcastle centre-half Andy O'Brien began Peterborough's revival eight minutes after the interval, and 16 minutes later Dave Farrell, a 30-year-old journeyman outside right, cut in from the touchline and carved his name on the old competition with a 20-yard shot that beat the outstretched right hand of Shay Given. London Road was in euphoric turmoil and about to be twinned with Edgar Street.
Barry Fry's spunky side sensed history, especially when the former Tottenham forward Neale Fenn was released by Farrell with 13 minutes to go. Fenn was one-on-one with Given. His flicked effort was true but Given managed to get his left hand to it.
"We were a long way from Cardiff when Fenn went through," the Newcastle manager Bobby Robson said afterwards. "But we showed character and resilience. Peterborough did themselves proud today and I'm a bit sad that they haven't got a replay at St James'. Sad but glad."
Just over five frenetic minutes had passed from Given's save when an Alan Shearer header from Solano's free-kick bounced on to the arm of Leon McKenzie.
The contact was hardly deliberate but Neale Barry pointed to the spot and Shearer struck an emphatic penalty past Mark Tyler. A minute later all at Newcastle sighed with relief when Aaron Hughes met a deft cross from Wayne Quinn to make it 4-2.
Peterborough's time had gone but they still enjoyed the moment. A standing ovation was the minimum they deserved, not least for the adventure they had shown. The home side overcame the early setback of O'Brien's goal, who swivelled on to a Sylvain Distin header and poked the ball past Tyler.
McKenzie and Tom Williams had useful chances and Bullard shaved a post with a whipped free-kick. But two minutes before the break, Jamie McClen scored his first goal for Newcastle with a cool, clipped finish.
"Whatever Barry Fry said to them at half-time worked," said Shearer. Within four minutes of the re-start Marc Joseph delivered a cross to the far post. O'Brien was under no pressure but placed a bullet header past Given, quite unbelievably. "Andy's just said they will be showing that on Match of the Day tonight," said Shearer. "I said to him that they'll be still showing it in 40 years."
Play began to swing and Farrell's equaliser came from a thwarted Newcastle attack. Bullard began it; Farrell finished it. Fry was asked the score by the fans and put two fingers from each hand in the air repeatedly.
But then came Given's fingers, and then came McKenzie's. It was Fry and Peterborough who had been told where to go.
"There is no better duo than Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer to win the FA Cup," said Fry. "They are a credit to the game. Lucky bastards." ..
PETERBOROUGH: Tyler, Joseph, Rea (Hooper 86), Edwards, Williams, Forsyth (Oldfield 86), Bullard, Farrell, Andy Clarke, Fenn (Forinton 86), McKenzie. Subs Not Used: Connor, Cullen. Booked: Edwards, Rea. Goals: O'Brien 52 og, Farrell 69.
NEWCASTLE: Given, Hughes, Distin, O'Brien, Elliott, Bernard (Quinn 78), Solano, Acuna, McClen (Kerr 90), Shearer, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Griffin, Harper, Ameobi. Booked: Acuna. Goals: O'Brien 14, McClen 43, Shearer 84 pen, Hughes 85.
Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
