Hordes of Newcastle United fans have been left stunned, after Steve Bruce claimed the Toon ‘were in complete control’ for much of our FA Cup Fourth Round Replay with Oxford United on Tuesday night.
The Magpies travelled to the Kassam Stadium having been held to a goalless draw at St. James’ Park on January 25, which was our fourth stalemate in six games across all competitions.
Another goalless draw followed with Norwich City on Saturday, but our unbeaten run dating back to defeat to Leicester on New Year’s Day could have stopped at seven on Tuesday, as United were forced to survive a huge scare when Oxford mounted a late comeback.
Bruce’s side stormed into a 2-0 lead inside the opening half-hour through goals from Sean Longstaff and Joelinton, who was left limping off the field with a suspected fractured rib moments after finding the back of the net.
The two-goal cushion gave United a comfortable base to play on without Joelinton in attack, and did appear to be cruising into the Fifth Round. That was until Liam Kelly’s 20-yard free-kick offered the host’s a glimmer of hope.
Should NUFC have put the game to bed earlier on?
Yes
No
Kelly’s effort eluded Karl Darlow’s clutches as the 29-year-old made his fourth outing of the campaign, and the Northampton-born shot-stopper would be beaten again four minutes into stoppage-time when Nathan Holland’s crisp volley rippled the back of the net.
The quality of our display up until Oxford’s late goals had left Bruce with a sense of confidence on the touchline, and is adamant that we deserved our extra-time win to book a Fifth Round date with West Bromwich Albion.
“I genuinely thought we were in complete control – until the last 10 minutes,” the boss said, via quotes by the Chronicle’s Lee Ryder. “We had a difficult five or 10 mins in extra times. But overall we deserved to win it.”
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Bruce’s claim…
Mind boggling. What a whopper.
— Andy Hone (@andyhone) February 4, 2020
Panglossian to the end. We had flashes of good play but too many simple errors, rash tackles and lack of discipline.
— Tony Hutchinson (@HutchinsonTony) February 5, 2020
So your telling me he doesn’t know his team then cause he was soooooo wrong 😂
— alex morris (@alex_morris9) February 4, 2020
First half was solid enough, second half sat off Oxford/stopped attacking. Lucky Oxford didnt pinch it with the last kick of normal time. ET – first half the same, poor, second half much better. It was a better performance but against league 1. Still a lack of bodies forward!
— Nufc42 (@nufc42) February 5, 2020
😂😂😂😂😂😂. Chump. Fraud. #bruceout
— Ian (@ian_riches) February 4, 2020
Got out played in the 2nd half big time. Plus they had a few real good chances 1st half. #nufc #cashleyout #clueless
— Mark Redpath (@mcredpath1) February 4, 2020
2nd half was utter tripe, much like every other 2nd half this season.
I know he’s got to big up the team and players but this lack of awareness is getting tedious— Steve Passmoor (@Junkenstein72) February 4, 2020
Was he playing Fifa20 or something cos that’s not the game I watched. Scraped thru.
— CK (@caomhanach) February 4, 2020
In other Newcastle United news, a fierce rival is monitoring a young Toon talent ahead of a potential summer swoop.