Many Newcastle United fans have been reacting on social media after it was announced who Steve Bruce’s Toon will face in the FA Cup Third Round.
The Magpies have been drawn to face either Rochdale AFC or Boston United away from home on the weekend commencing Friday, January 3 to Monday, January 6, 2020.
Boston, a sixth-tier side competing in the National League North, are due to replay their Second Round clash with Rochdale on Tuesday, December 10, having held the League One outfit to a 0-0 draw at the weekend.
United have never faced either of Rochdale or Boston in the FA Cup before, while we have also never played the Dale in a competitive fixture throughout the club’s history.
We have reached the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in each of our last three seasons, but have not progressed further into the oldest national football competition in world football since we advanced to the Quarter-Final in 2006.
The season before had seen the club enter the Semi-Final of the FA Cup under Bobby Robson, but lost 4-1 to Manchester United in Cardiff, in what was our furthest run in the competition since finishing as runners-up in 1997/98 and ’98/99.
Newcastle have not lifted the FA Cup since 1955, when we won the competition for the sixth time in our history – matching Aston Villa’s record total from the time.
Bruce had declared back in August that he would be taking the cup competitions seriously, but lost to Leicester City on penalties in our first round of the Carabao Cup.
How far can we go in the FA Cup?
Eliminated in the Third Round
Only as far as the Fourth Round
May be able to reach the Fifth Round
Quarter-Finals, or even further!
Here are some of the messages shared after the club announced who we will face in the FA Cup Third Round…
For other teams this would be seen as a great draw, but I think its ingrained in me in recent years that there is a high chance we’ll lose that game.
— Sparky (@EpicSparkx) December 2, 2019
Great for us on paper but imagine if we lost…..
— Jack Charlton (@JackCha50747589) December 2, 2019
There’s no excuses to not win that draw
— Liam ⚫️⚪️ (@LiamNUFC1998) December 2, 2019
Embarrassing exit for a weakened team
— SelbyMag (@stevecurry1970) December 2, 2019
Might scrape the next round with this one
— Ryan (@ryanbeard2012) December 2, 2019
Could we actually get past the 3rd round for once?!
— Jordan (@JordanRayner18) December 3, 2019
No doubt we’ll soak up all the Boston pressure and try and catch them on the break!
— Geoff Ogle (@GeoffOgleFSS) December 3, 2019
either one is fine with me . Gazza first club Newcastle United could possibly vs his last club Boston United.
— callum lewis (@callum592) December 2, 2019
Play full strength
— Dell ❄️ 9-3 (@agbnufc) December 2, 2019
In other Newcastle United news, a 5 ft 7 Toon man is keen to leave St. James’ Park.