And so the Tigers came to the circus and now go forward to meet the Lions, ending our interest in the FA Cup ended for yet another year and ensured that Bobby Moncur will celebrate the 40th anniversary of picking up the Fairs Cup later in 2009 as the last club captain to lift silverware.

City's second SJP success of the season sets them up with a home tie with Millwall, while Newcastle fans and players can now contemplate one less fixture and an empty weekend in January. 

Fielding their only ten fully fit senior outfield players against weakened opponents, JFK's side gave a timely illustration of the message he tried to convey to the owner 24 hours before....we're sinking.

There were strong echoes in the current manager's comments with those previously made here by Glenn Roeder, Sam Allardyce (present here tonight) and Kevin Keegan about the size and quality of the players available for him to select from currently.

And when one considers that no fewer than three of the starting XI - Given, Owen and N'Zogbia - are odds-on to depart in the near future, things look even bleaker, as we extended our winless run to five games.

The Magpies were dominant in the opening 45 minutes, with Michael Owen and the recalled Xisco both blasting shots high over the City goal when well-placed. And the closest either side came to a goal was a header from Nicky Butt which cannoned off the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

Soon afterwards the fourth official intervened on the touchline to separate Joe Kinnear from Phil Brown, with referee Phil Dowd promptly banishing both managers to the stands, heaping further disciplinary woe on JFK. 

Owen's run and shot in the opening moments of the second half proved to be a high point, as the home side faded badly and penalties began to look inevitable.

Having been reported as absentees through injury, both Andy Carroll and Steven Taylor were named on the bench and the former was brought on for the plainly knackered Xisco to try and force a way through the City defence.

Shorn of his hair braids though, Carroll failed to repeat his scoring heroics of last Saturday, with fellow replacement Kazenga LuaLua similarly unable to play a decisive role.

Following City's goal, United pushed forward in desparation, but despite five added minutes of injury time and the presence of Given upfield for a series of corners and free kicks, no equaliser came. 

Owen again missed our best chance when he headed over, while Carroll was unable to get sufficient contact on a loose ball to bundle it home. Bassong meanwhile clashed on the field with on-loan mackem McShane - a spat which continued later in a corridor of the Milburn Stand. Like his team though, the French defender failed to get a shot on target that caused the Tigers any problems.

Putting any ribbon-related sentiment aside, a defeat in 90 minutes was probably the best result possible for us in our current dishevelled state - apart from having lost at the KC Stadium last time.

While a few quid would have been banked from a home tie, our progress at the first time of asking would by no means have been certain, with any replay sandwiched between the home derby and a trip to West Brom.

Similarly, playing a Fifth Round tie immediately before a run of three more pivotal league games in just eleven days would be a challenge - with the potential of being drawn against one of the top five a further unwanted burden.

In essence, we're relieved that our only remaining chance of any glory this season has ended, enabling us to now concentrate on the task of retaining our top-flight place. What a state to be in, as we approach the first anniversary of Kevin Keegan's re-appointment at SJP.  

Progress, my arse.

Biffa