Bellamy Broke Barnsley Hearts

Subs Not Used: Ghent, Regan.

 

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Barton, O'Brien, Distin, Bernard, Solano, Speed, Lee, Robert, Bellamy, Shearer.

Subs Not Used: Acuna, Given, Hughes, Lua-Lua, Ameobi.

Att: 14,493

Bellamy fired United into the last 16 of the competition with a 78th-minute winner to break the heart of Tykes boss Nigel Spackman and those of the Barnsley faithful at Oakwell.

It was the Wales international's sixth goal of the season and his fourth of the tournament following his second round rapid-fire hat-trick to help beat Brentford 4-1 at St James' Park last month.

Bellamy had scored his trio in 12 minutes on that occasion after coming on as a substitute in extra time, but for a long period in this match it looked as if he and the rest of the Magpies side would be denied by former Sunderland stopper Marriott.

Marriott, a free transfer signing from the Wearside club in March, was the difference between the sides during a first half in which opposite number Steve Harper was barely troubled after a nerve-shredding start.

The Newcastle defence was exposed with less than two minutes on the clock, with Lee Jones playing a piercing through ball behind the United backline for an alert Bruce Dyer.

As Harper approached, Dyer slipped a shot underneath the Magpies keeper, but just as he was about to celebrate and with the Tykes fans ready to roar, Olivier Bernard whipped the chance off the line.

For centre-back Bernard, a free transfer capture from Lyon 12 months ago and who celebrates his 22nd birthday this Sunday, it was a defining moment which justified his first start for the club.

From that point Newcastle slowly took control, with Laurent Robert instrumental in almost every move, only for the France international and his United team-mates to be frustrated by Marriott.

After a 20-yard Robert free-kick cleared the bar in the eighth minute, it was the £10million summer signing from Paris St Germain who set up the next opportunity two minutes later.

Robert's piercing left-wing cross was met by the head of centre-back Andy O'Brien, and although Marriott was beaten, he was grateful to watch the deft flick flash past his left-hand post.

Then Marriott came into his own, firstly in the 20th minute as Robert pulled down a Nolberto Solano cross, but was left beating the ground in anger as the Barnsley keeper athletically pushed away the powerful drive.

Five minutes later it was Bellamy's turn to be thwarted after being superbly picked out by an incisive, deep through ball from Warren Barton.

After an initial touch for control Bellamy, who played in the World Cup qualifying win over Belarus on Saturday, curled in a shot destined for the top corner only for Marriott - 31 this Thursday - to again brilliantly save.

But after the break it was a different story as Harper twice came to Newcastle's rescue in a much more even second half, with Kevin Gallen prevented from making an immediate impact following his introduction during the interval.

Harper acrobatically tipped over the bar Gallen's half-volley in the 49th minute, making amends after having flapped at a corner from Chris Lumsdon, the debut-making midfielder on loan from Sunderland.

Ten minutes later former England Under-21 international Gallen, who had replaced Rory Fallon, latched onto a Kevin Donovan cross with a sizzling drive, but Harper was equal to the chance.

Either side of Gallen's second effort, Bellamy embarrassingly miscued a 10-yard shot in running onto a Solano cross.

But Bellamy was to have the final say in a frantic finish, slipping a 12-yard shot beyond the unfortunate Marriott, with Robert of course the supplier.