North East bragging rights are going back over the Tyne-Wear bridge to Newcastle United, as the Magpies beat their arch-rivals Sunderland 3-0 to advance beyond the FA Cup third round for the first time since 2019/20. While the opening stages of the first Wear-Tyne derby in eight years were a little anit-climatic on the pitch, a raucous atmosphere in the stands was providing more than enough entertainment. Blood and thunder was the main order of play, but there was a sense that a moment of magic was needed to really ignite the game – something Sean Longstaff almost provided on two occasions, but both his efforts from six-yards out never really threatened to break the deadlock.How to trick your hated rival: the 420,000 pounds scamAs it happened, it was more of a stroke of luck that opened the scoring – with Newcastle the beneficiary of it. Joelinton was the architect, breaking down the inside left, and while Alexander Isak was waiting to tap in his teasing delivery, Dan Ballard didn’t give him the chance, turning the ball into his own net from under the Swede’s nose. Newcastle certainly grew into the game as it went on, and they could probably count themselves a little unlucky not to have taken a two-goal lead into the break when Miguel Almirón’s acrobatic effort drifted narrowly wide of the post.In truth, trailing by just a solitary goal at halftime was probably something Sunderland would’ve been fairly content with, but within a minute of the restart they shot themselves in the foot. Pierre Ekwah had his pocket picked on the edge of his own area by Almirón, who took the unselfish route of squaring for Isak to strike into the corner of an empty net. That didn’t necessarily throw Michael Beale’s side off too much, and they almost hit back instantly when Alex Pritchard’s 30-yard rocket crashed off the crossbar.Pritchard looked most likely to grab a consolation for the hosts, and he did at least force Martin Dúbravka into his first meaningful action of the afternoon 15 minutes from time when he beat away his curling effort. That proved to be as close as the Black Cats came to salvaging an ounce of pride, and there was yet more misery heaped upon them when Isak converted from the penalty spot, as they missed the chance to win a fourth-straight home head-to-head for the first time ever. Newcastle were the beneficiaries of their misfortune, with the massive win not only easing some pressure on Eddie Howe, but also ending a nine-match winless run against their bitter foes.FA CUP1/32 FINALSThursdayCrystal Palace – Everton 0-0FridayBrentford – Wolverhampton 1-1 (1-0)/Maupay 41 – Doyle 64/Fulham – Rotherham 1-0 (1-0)/De Cordova-Reid 24/Tottenham – Burnley 1-0 (0-0)/Porro 79/SaturdayCoventry – Oxford 6-2 (3-1)/Latibeaudiere 8, Sheaf 11, Palmer 17, O’Hare 50 pen, Godden 84, 89 – Harris 10, Goodrham 79/Wimbledon – Ipswich 1-3 (1-2)/Reeves 17 pen – Davison 8 og, Tuanzebe 40, Taylor 90/Maidstone Utd – Stevenage 1-0 (1-0)/Corne 45+2 pen/Millwall – Leicester 2-3 (0-2)/Watmore 56, Flemming 86 – Casadei 19, Pereira 36, Cannon 61/Sunderland – Newcastle 0-3 (0-1)/Ballard 35 og, Isak 46, 90 pen/18:00: (1.53) Watford (4.30) Chesterfield (6.00)18:00: (1.30) Southampton (5.80) Walsall (9.00)18:00: (1.75) Newport (3.80) Eastleigh (4.60)18:00: (1.45) Blackburn (4.50) Cambridge (7.00)18:00: (1.30) Plymouth (5.90) Sutton United (9.00)18:00: (6.25) Stoke (4.20) Brighton (1.53)18:00: (1.80) Hull (3.60) Birmingham (4.60)18:00: (7.00) QPR (4.50) Bournemouth (1.45)18:00: (6.00) Gillingham (3.90) Sheffield Utd (1.60)18:00: (1.58) Norwich (4.00) Bristol Rovers (5.90)20:30: (2.40) Sheffield W. (3.30) Cardiff (3.00)20:30: (1.20) Chelsea (6.75) Preston (14.0)20:30: (5.90) Middlesbrough (4.00) Aston Villa (1.58)20:30: (1.40) Swansea (4.80) Morecambe (7.75)Sunday17:00: (3.50) Shrewsbury (3.45) Wrexham (2.10)17:00: (1.42) West Ham (4.50) Bristol City (7.75)17:00: (1.30) WBA (5.90) Aldershot (9.00)17:00: (5.40) Peterborough (3.80) Leeds (1.65)17:00: (1.73) Luton (3.60) Bolton (5.10)17:00: (1.05) Man.City (14.0) Huddersfield (35.0)17:00: (1.38) Nott.Forest (4.80) Blackpool (8.50)19:30: (2.05) Arsenal (3.50) Liverpool (3.50)Monday23:15: (9.50) Wigan (5.70) Man.Utd. (1.25)***odds are subject to change***
