Line-up
George Burley used the opportunity of a cup game to experiment with a line-up shorn of a number of cup-tied players, as Surman, Chaplow and Rasiak had to sit it out.
Saints lined up in an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 when attacking and 5-2-2-1 when defending, a formation more traditionally associated with Brazil. In came Marian Pahars alongside Madsen and sat behind Kenwyne Jones.
The attacking trio failed to gel with Pahars anonymous and Jones frequently isolated up front. Madsen showed good skill on the ball, but still needs to get himself into the box more, striking the top of the crossbar with his one opportunity.
At the back Lundekvam played through the pain barrier, making a series of classy interventions, alongside the more rudimentary skills of Powell and potential of Cranie. Ostlund and Brennan defended well, but had little cover on the flanks from Pahars and Madsen allowing Newcastle too much space to put in a series of dangerous crosses.
In midfield Matty Oakley put in one of his best recent performances, alongside the quiet Wright, and it was an encouraging sight to see him breaking into the box at pace, an all too rare occurance this season.
It took the second half switch to a more traditional 4-4-2 to get Saints playing. Newcastle failed to get to grips with the change in formation as for 20 minutes Saints bossed the game where previously we had been hanging on. As all too often this season, Saints wasted three glorious chances to take the lead as Jones and Madsen were denied by crossbar, Given and row Z.
The half ended in true Saints comedy fashion, as with all three substitutes used, an injury to Bart left Dexter Blackstock with the gloves, now that jack-of-all-trades, master of none, Rory Delap, has departed to Newcastle rivals Sunderland.
He proceeded to show his full array of tennis shots in swatting away Newcastle's efforts on goal. The switch unfortunately ended the game as a contest as Saints held on when we might have snatched a win that seemed unlikely after 45 minutes.
On the Cross verdict
Saints should have been behind after a poor opening 45 minutes, as the players failed to get to grips with the new formation and Newcastle's pace in attack. The second half was a different matter with the switch in personnel and formation and Saints leave St James' Park feeling hard done by, shipping a well worked Kieran Dyer goal against the run of play.
We went into the game as underdogs and the result, while not unexpected, is hard to take after surviving the first 45 minutes, thanks to a good defensive line and a fair slice of luck when post and crossbar combined to deny Boumsong.
It is a sign of how far we have fallen in the last 18 months that we now have to endure frankly patronising commentators praising pluckly little Saints for holding out in the first half and for our brave fightback against the Premiership giants.
The magic and madness of the FA Cup is now over and it is time to get on with business in the league, as our improving side looks to turn the corner under George Burley's shrewd guidance.
We now move on to two vital home games against Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry, two more fallen former Premiership clubs, but definitely winnable games. However, Saints will need to start finding the back of the net as we come up with ever more inventive ways of wasting the increasing number of chances that are coming our way.
Man of the match: A shame he had to come off injured at half time as Claus Lundekvam put in a quality display of defending, reminding Saints of the quality we still possess after relegation.
Cameo of the day: Who other than Dexter Blackstock for the cameo to end all cameos as he entertained the Saturday night viewers with some eccentric goalkeeping. Where was Rory Delap when we needed him!
Lemon of the day: Oh, Kenwyne, Kenwyne. Could have won the game for us, but lacked composure in front of goal at the vital moments after doing the hard part in a much improved performance.
Thorn in the side: Kieran Dyer must love playing us in the cup as he scored against us again with a well taken goal in an all-action display.
George Burley used the opportunity of a cup game to experiment with a line-up shorn of a number of cup-tied players, as Surman, Chaplow and Rasiak had to sit it out.
Saints lined up in an unfamiliar 3-4-2-1 when attacking and 5-2-2-1 when defending, a formation more traditionally associated with Brazil. In came Marian Pahars alongside Madsen and sat behind Kenwyne Jones.
The attacking trio failed to gel with Pahars anonymous and Jones frequently isolated up front. Madsen showed good skill on the ball, but still needs to get himself into the box more, striking the top of the crossbar with his one opportunity.
At the back Lundekvam played through the pain barrier, making a series of classy interventions, alongside the more rudimentary skills of Powell and potential of Cranie. Ostlund and Brennan defended well, but had little cover on the flanks from Pahars and Madsen allowing Newcastle too much space to put in a series of dangerous crosses.
In midfield Matty Oakley put in one of his best recent performances, alongside the quiet Wright, and it was an encouraging sight to see him breaking into the box at pace, an all too rare occurance this season.
It took the second half switch to a more traditional 4-4-2 to get Saints playing. Newcastle failed to get to grips with the change in formation as for 20 minutes Saints bossed the game where previously we had been hanging on. As all too often this season, Saints wasted three glorious chances to take the lead as Jones and Madsen were denied by crossbar, Given and row Z.
The half ended in true Saints comedy fashion, as with all three substitutes used, an injury to Bart left Dexter Blackstock with the gloves, now that jack-of-all-trades, master of none, Rory Delap, has departed to Newcastle rivals Sunderland.
He proceeded to show his full array of tennis shots in swatting away Newcastle's efforts on goal. The switch unfortunately ended the game as a contest as Saints held on when we might have snatched a win that seemed unlikely after 45 minutes.
On the Cross verdict
Saints should have been behind after a poor opening 45 minutes, as the players failed to get to grips with the new formation and Newcastle's pace in attack. The second half was a different matter with the switch in personnel and formation and Saints leave St James' Park feeling hard done by, shipping a well worked Kieran Dyer goal against the run of play.
We went into the game as underdogs and the result, while not unexpected, is hard to take after surviving the first 45 minutes, thanks to a good defensive line and a fair slice of luck when post and crossbar combined to deny Boumsong.
It is a sign of how far we have fallen in the last 18 months that we now have to endure frankly patronising commentators praising pluckly little Saints for holding out in the first half and for our brave fightback against the Premiership giants.
The magic and madness of the FA Cup is now over and it is time to get on with business in the league, as our improving side looks to turn the corner under George Burley's shrewd guidance.
We now move on to two vital home games against Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry, two more fallen former Premiership clubs, but definitely winnable games. However, Saints will need to start finding the back of the net as we come up with ever more inventive ways of wasting the increasing number of chances that are coming our way.
Man of the match: A shame he had to come off injured at half time as Claus Lundekvam put in a quality display of defending, reminding Saints of the quality we still possess after relegation.
Cameo of the day: Who other than Dexter Blackstock for the cameo to end all cameos as he entertained the Saturday night viewers with some eccentric goalkeeping. Where was Rory Delap when we needed him!
Lemon of the day: Oh, Kenwyne, Kenwyne. Could have won the game for us, but lacked composure in front of goal at the vital moments after doing the hard part in a much improved performance.
Thorn in the side: Kieran Dyer must love playing us in the cup as he scored against us again with a well taken goal in an all-action display.