Stoke City and Bolton Wanderers' FA Cup semi final leaves them just ninety minutes away from a date with Europe.
With both Manchester clubs set to reach European competition through the league, the winner of the Stoke/Bolton tie will automatically qualify for the Europa League.
Both Chris Hughton and Alan Pardew regarded our Carling Cup and FA Cup commitments this season 'unwelcome distractions to fighting relegation', but many Toon fans are still furious at the Stevenage defeat.
Could we have made it to the FA Cup final? We should have (at the very least) given it a go!
