Eddie’s challenging on all fronts Mags make it eight in a row, how far can they stretch this run? | OneFootball

There’s a lot going on around here lately that is distinctly unlike Newcastle United.

A string of impressive away wins at traditional “big club” strongholds with grit in the eye that suggests we’re not here for any nonsense is a bit, well, unfamiliar in an environment where we’re used to underwhelming disappointment.

I keep expecting us to turn up one day and there’s a bloke from the FA with a serious face, here to regrettably inform everyone we’ve accidentally been given Manchester United’s season, and if we can just pop off to struggle in 14th place, he’ll set about the business of correcting our wrongly-allocated cup runs.

After the last couple of years, those cup draws have felt very un-Newcastle.

Oh, things started as per, getting the hardest possible draw out there when sent to Forest in round two of the League Cup, but since then we’ve had a run of home games, culminating in the more desirable semi-final draw of being home in the second leg.

This one though, was just plain bonkers. With 44 non-Premier League sides to choose from, the expectation would be we either get landed with a fellow top flight side, or at least get an ominous away game where we can be fodder for an upset.

Drawing a team 78 places below us in the league was most unexpected and I feared the man from the FA would be there to usher the Bromley bus to Old Trafford, while gravely informing Eddie we should have been away to Arsenal instead.

Of course, we’ve been stung before by the prospect of what looks like a straightforward draw. Even in the post-takeover times, Eddie Howe’s first two FA Cup games were inglorious exits against League One opposition, although I consider the Cambridge game to be before he’d really settled in. Even so, the visit of a side newly promoted to League Two and making their third round debut should have been no cause for concern. A major difference to last season is that this would allow Howe to rest the big hitters in a way that just wasn’t possible with the stinking draws landed on us from all three competitions last time round.

This doubles as an audition for those on the fringes to prove they can be of value in the challenges on multiple fronts ahead of us. It was the case that many were given the opportunity but there was a strong presence felt from the first team. Joelinton was retained in midfield, with the only other remainder from the fantastic win at the Emirates, the surprising choice of Dubravka in goal. Most had expected a first start for Vlachodimos but the retention of our current number one could be to keep him happy with as many matches as possible before Pope is fit, as Howe has expressed a desire to retain the Slovakian international at least until the end of the season. Alternatively, it could have just been a chance for him to say goodbye, should rumours of a move to Saudi come to fruition soon.

Anyhow, the rest of the less common starters were evidence of how far things had come since that Sheffield Wednesday game, with younger prospects Osula and Miley mixing it with Targett, Longstaff, Almiron and Trippier, any of whom may be nearing the exit soon. To be fair, everyone on the pitch was flirting with this fate when Bromley shot into a shock lead within ten minutes. A couple of scrambles for 50/50 balls ended with it breaking for Cameron Congreve to hit a raker inside the bottom corner from outside the box. A moment he’ll remember and likewise the Bromley contingent up a height as they made their presence felt in celebration.

I found the next eight minutes to be almost as anxious as the last half hour at the Emirates the other night. United had. solid possession but with Bromley sitting deep they kept running out of ideas and attacks were fizzling out without efforts on goal. At one point this ended with Bromley breaking and a shot skimming narrowly wide that would have made for an embarrassing 2-0 to recover from.

When the moment of relief came it grew out of another missed opportunity, as Miley’s perfect through ball put Osula away. He got around the keeper but a fantastic last ditch challenge denied him his first goal for Newcastle. However, Barnes retrieved the loosed ball and found Miley via Targett, and the youngster took a touch before arrowing a blistering drive perfectly into the top corner. That would have been unstoppable for a Premier League keeper.

Even with parity restored, it still felt a bit antsy to not be winning come half time. The sight of Bruno and Gordon warming up in earnest was encouraging, although also a tad disappointing that engaging our big hitters would be necessary to sort out our plucky fourth tier opponents.

To be fair, it worked a treat, as it took Gordon all of four minutes to make the difference. He challenged for a cross that was half cleared and when Targett picked up the loosed ball ball he was pole-axed in the box by an over eager challenge. Gordon despatched the penalty and United had finally nudged ahead.

It was still a bit nervy even with the lead, so there were many reasons to be grateful for the occurrence on the hour mark. Bruno passed to Osula wide on the right and he advanced into the box with menace. The four defenders monitoring him stood off a bit too far and Osula unleashed a rocket launcher loaded with buckshot from a traction engine of a boot. The net shot back in an incredibly satisfying way in the very top corner and bad luck for Miley who may have rightly been entertaining thoughts of winning goal of the round up to this point.

This was a positive for Osula, to get off the mark in such emphatic fashion, for the benefit of those regulars on the pitch as United could effectively stand down, and for the collective nerves in the stands, as 3-1 was comfortable and round four beckoned. The rest of the match passed largely without incident, with United progressing without incident and Bromley going home with heads held high.

It was lovely stuff to get home in time for the fourth round draw, although I’d maybe rather Arsenal hadn’t lost their penalty shoot out with the next round coming the weekend after our League Cup tie.

Still, they’re a big threat removed and we cannot complain about drawing League One opposition, even if it is table-topping Birmingham. We should be able to go hell for leather in the second leg of the League Cup semi and still have enough to bypass Brum, all without creating problems for the Premier League. This has been an incredibly positive start to 2025 and there’s no room for respite as there are Wolves at the door in three days time.

Eddie’s challenging on all fronts Mags make it eight in a row then, how far can they stretch this run?

Newcastle 3 Bromley 1 – Sunday 12 January 2025 3pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Miley 16, Gordon 49 pen, Osula 61

Bromley:

Congreve 8

Possession was Newcastle 81% (86%) Bromley 19% (14%)

Total shots were Newcastle 18 (9) Bromley 3 (3)

Shots on target were Newcastle 3 (1) Bromley 1 (1)

Corners were Newcastle 7 (4) Bromley 1 (1)

Touches in the box Newcastle 41 (21) Bromley 5 (2)

Newcastle team v Bromley:

Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Kelly, Targett (Hall 69), Longstaff, Miley, Joelinton (Bruno 46), Barnes (Gordon 46), Almiron (Tonali 84), Osula (Sanusi 69)

Unused subs:

Vlachodimos, Livramento, Burn, Alex Murphy

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 1 February – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

Wednesday 5 February – Newcastle v Arsenal (8pm) Sky Sports