Newcastle see off Palace

Alan Shearer opened the scoring on 40 minutes

Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

E-mail your reaction to Football Talk

Goals from Alan Shearer and Clarence Acuna handed Newcastle a well-deserved victory in the third round of the FA Cup at St James' Park.

Shearer opened the scoring in the 40th minute and second-half substitute Acuna doubled the lead in the 76th minute.

The visitors will feel disappointed after failing to take advantage of a couple of gilt-edged chances.

  Key moments

3 mins: Given saves Riihilati's shot

40 mins: Shearer scores with 20-yard strike

52 mins: Morrison goal disallowed for off-side

76 mins: Acuna scores Magpies' second

They should have taken the lead with less than three minutes on the clock.

But they were denied by a brilliant save by keeper Shay Given, who palmed away Finnish midfielder Aki Riihilati's 10-yard strike.

And soon after, the home side found their composure and Palace found themselves on the back foot as the Magpies searched for the opener.

Referee Mike Riley turned down what looked to be a legitimate penalty claim when Olivier Bernard was brought down by David Hopkin on 33 minutes.

It was a typical cup tie where a non-Premiership club can come to a Premiership club and on the day, rise to the occasion and give a pretty good performance

Newcastle manager Bobby Robson

However, seven minutes later, Newcastle took the lead when Shearer struck his sixth goal in as many games with a powerful strike from 18 yards.

The travelling Palace fans thought their side had equalised when Clinton Morrison ran onto Steve Thomson's pass to fire past Given seven minutes after the interval.

But the Republic of Ireland international was thwarted by the assistant referee's flag, just as he began his celebrations.

And to make matters worse for Trevor Francis' side, Acuna, on for the injured Gary Speed, doubled Newcastle's lead on 76 minutes.

I'd like to congratulate Newcastle as worthy winners, but I think we gave a good account of ourselves

Palace boss Trevor Francis

The Chilean international fired past keeper Alex Kolinko from 16-yards.

Palace pressed forward in an attempt to salvage a late goal but failed to trouble Bobby Robson's side, who booked their place in the fourth round.

---

Newcastle: Given, Hughes, Distin, Dabizas, Elliott, Solano (Lua-Lua 84), Dyer (O'Brien 84), Speed (Acuna 54), Bernard, Bellamy, Shearer.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Ameobi.

Booked: Distin.

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Gray, Symons, Popovic, Granville, Thomson, Riihilahti, Hopkin (Rodger 81), Mullins, Morrison, Kirovski.

Subs Not Used: Berhalter, Harrison, Kabba, Carasso.

Booked: Hopkin.

Attendance: 38,089

Referee: M Riley