Stoke Know All About Toon Upheaval!

Rumours of a likely dismissal should the Magpies have been grounded in the Potteries were played down by the Newcastle hierarchy but the pressure on Allardyce would have reached almost intolerable proportions if the Coca-Cola Championship club had advanced.

The presence of Sir Alex Ferguson at the Britannia Stadium was a reminder of how the world's oldest cup competition can change the course of a managerial career.

And should Allardyce survive and eventually go on to achieve even a quarter of the success Ferguson has had at Manchester United - Newcastle's next opponents - he may reflect on his side's durability during a tricky couple of minutes immediately after Jon Parkin's introduction, which might well have sunk Newcastle without trace.

On top for long spells, the Magpies were looking increasingly unlikely to make the breakthrough when Parkin latched onto Ricardo Fuller's cutback.

The substitute looked certain to score but Steven Taylor and Abdoulaye Faye jointly flung themselves in the way of the goalbound shot and kept it out.

Allardyce is a bullish character and insisted prior to the game he did not fear the sack if his under-performing team were bundled out of the competition at the first hurdle to lower league opposition.

Yet, even with such a stout heart and firm conviction, Allardyce could be forgiven a sense of trepidation as his team took to the field to face a Stoke side unbeaten since November 10, precisely the same day as Michael Owen last started for the Magpies.

It would be wrong and totally unfair to pin the blame for Newcastle's current difficulties at Owen's door but the England forward's frequent lengthy absences are hardly conducive to a stable team.

With Joey Barton missing and Obafemi Martins required to attend an pre-African Nations Cup training camp with Nigeria, Allardyce was shorn of a few key men.

Yet, a quick glance at a team containing Owen, Mark Viduka and Damien Duff offered an obvious explanation as to why so many believe Newcastle should be doing far better than they currently are.

FA CUP REPLAY - NEWCASTLE UTD 4 STOKE CITY 1

Att: 35,108

Newcastle rediscovered their killer touch as Kevin Keegan strode back into St James' Park to herald yet another new era.

Keegan arrived back on Tyneside with immaculate timing to see the 10-man Magpies serve up one of their most impressive performances of the season and book an FA Cup fourth-round trip to Arsenal.

The former player and manager took his seat in the directors' box 20 minutes after kick-off and at times it seemed as if he had never been away as the club's players threw off the shackles of Sam Allardyce's reign to take Stoke apart.

True, they will face far stronger opposition in the Premier League this season, and will face Bolton on Saturday with midfielders Emre, Alan Smith and Nicky Butt suspended.

But it was the manner in which they dealt with the Coca-Cola Championship promotion contenders in front of an ecstatic crowd of 35,108 which will have pleased Keegan and beaming owner Mike Ashley.

Michael Owen's first goal since October 7 started the ball rolling with just eight minutes gone and after Emre had been sent off for a challenge on John Eustace, defender Claudio Cacapa doubled the advantage 14 minutes before the break.

James Milner made sure on 68 minutes and Damien Duff's first goal at St James' with 14 minutes remaining would have been the icing on the cake had Liam Lawrence not pulled one back at the death.

In truth, the game for all-but-caretaker-boss Nigel Pearson and his players had been rendered largely irrelevant by the news of Keegan's appointment, which broke shortly before 4.30pm.

Such was the desire to share in a significant night on Tyneside kick-off had to be delayed by 15 minutes as fans flocked to buy tickets in the wake of the announcement that Keegan was on his way back.

Allardyce ultimately paid the price for not producing the required levels of excitement, but it was in abundant supply once again from the off.

2007/2008 Wed 16 Jan Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Stoke City F.A. Cup
Sun 06 Jan Stoke City 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
1995/1996 Wed 25 Oct Stoke City 0 - 4 Newcastle Utd. League Cup
1989/1990 Mon 16 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Stoke City Second Division
Tue 26 Dec Stoke City 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1984/1985 Sat 04 May Stoke City 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 01 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke City First Division
1978/1979 Sat 28 Apr Stoke City 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
Sat 09 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Stoke City Second Division
1976/1977 Tue 15 Mar Stoke City 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 30 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke City First Division
Wed 22 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Stoke City League Cup
1975/1976 Wed 03 Mar Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Stoke City First Division
Sat 25 Oct Stoke City 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1974/1975 Sat 19 Apr Stoke City 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 12 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Stoke City First Division
1973/1974 Wed 03 Apr Stoke City 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 03 Nov Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke City First Division
1972/1973 Sat 10 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke City First Division
Sat 14 Oct Stoke City 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1971/1972 Mon 08 May Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Stoke City First Division
Sat 27 Nov Stoke City 3 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1970/1971 Sat 09 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Stoke City First Division
Wed 19 Aug Stoke City 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1969/1970 Sat 21 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City First Division
Sat 06 Dec Stoke City 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1968/1969 Wed 30 Apr Newcastle Utd. 5 - 0 Stoke City First Division
Sat 07 Dec Stoke City 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1967/1968 Sat 06 Jan Stoke City 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 02 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Stoke City First Division
1966/1967 Mon 27 Mar Stoke City 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Fri 24 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City First Division
1965/1966 Sat 26 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City First Division
Sat 11 Sep Stoke City 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1962/1963 Wed 01 May Newcastle Utd. 5 - 2 Stoke City Second Division
Sat 06 Oct Stoke City 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1961/1962 Sat 14 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Stoke City Second Division
Sat 25 Nov Stoke City 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division
1960/1961 Sat 18 Feb Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City F.A. Cup
1955/1956 Sat 18 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke City F.A. Cup
1952/1953 Sat 07 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Stoke City First Division
Sat 20 Sep Stoke City 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1951/1952 Sat 15 Dec Stoke City 4 - 5 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 18 Aug Newcastle Utd. 6 - 0 Stoke City First Division
1950/1951 Sat 10 Feb Stoke City 2 - 4 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 16 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Stoke City First Division
Sat 19 Aug Stoke City 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1949/1950 Sat 18 Feb Stoke City 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 01 Oct Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Stoke City First Division
1948/1949 Sat 22 Jan Stoke City 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 11 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Stoke City First Division
1933/1934 Sat 28 Apr Stoke City 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 16 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Stoke City First Division
1922/1923 Sat 21 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke First Division
Sat 14 Apr Stoke 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1909/1910 Wed 19 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke F.A. Cup
Sat 15 Jan Stoke 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup
1906/1907 Fri 29 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke First Division
Wed 26 Dec Stoke 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1905/1906 Tue 24 Apr Newcastle Utd. 5 - 0 Stoke First Division
Sat 16 Dec Stoke 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1904/1905 Fri 21 Apr Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Stoke First Division
Sat 22 Oct Stoke 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1903/1904 Sat 23 Jan Stoke 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 26 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Stoke First Division
1902/1903 Sat 03 Jan Stoke 5 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 06 Sep Newcastle Utd. 5 - 0 Stoke First Division
1901/1902 Sat 11 Jan Stoke 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Stoke First Division
1900/1901 Sat 12 Jan Stoke 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
Sat 15 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke First Division
1899/1900 Sat 21 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Stoke First Division
Sat 16 Dec Stoke 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1898/1899 Sat 21 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Stoke First Division
Sat 24 Sep Stoke 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division
1897/1898 Fri 23 Apr Stoke 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Test Match
Tue 20 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Stoke Test Match

NEWCASTLE UNITED FIXTURES:

Saturday 06th December 2008  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Stoke City 15.00 
 
Sunday 14th December 2008  
Barclays Premier League
Portsmouth  v  Newcastle 13.30
 
Sunday 21st December 2008  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Tottenham 15.00
 
Friday 26th December 2008  
Barclays Premier League
Wigan Athletic  v  Newcastle 15.00
 
Sunday 28th December 2008  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Liverpool 12.00
 
Saturday 03rd January 2009  
FA Challenge Cup Third Round 
Hull City  v  Newcastle 15.00
 
Saturday 10th January 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  West Ham 15.00
 
Saturday 17th January 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Blackburn  v  Newcastle 15.00
 
Wednesday 28th January 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Man City  v  Newcastle 19.45
 
Sunday 01st February 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Sunderland 13.30
 
Saturday 07th February 2009  
Barclays Premier League
West Brom  v  Newcastle 15.00
 
Saturday 21st February 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Everton 15.00
 
Saturday 28th February 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Bolton  v  Newcastle 15.00
 
Wednesday 04th March 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Man Utd 19.45
 
Saturday 14th March 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Hull City  v  Newcastle 15.00
 
Saturday 21st March 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Arsenal 15.00
 
Saturday 04th April 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Chelsea 15.00
 
Saturday 11th April 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Stoke City  v  Newcastle 15.00
 
Saturday 18th April 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Tottenham  v  Newcastle 15.00
 
Saturday 25th April 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Portsmouth 15.00
 
Saturday 02nd May 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool  v  Newcastle 15.00
 
Saturday 09th May 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Middlesbrough 15.00
 
Saturday 16th May 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Newcastle  v  Fulham 15.00
 
Sunday 24th May 2009  
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa  v  Newcastle 16.00