FA Cup: Shearer starts for Magpies

A break in rain rescued this match from postponement, but the pitch, which Peterborough boss Barry Fry boasts is ‘the worst in the league,’ looked terrible, a fact likely to trouble Newcastle more than the Second Division side.

Magpies manager Bobby Robson selected as strong a line-up as possible for the FA Cup fourth-round clash, with Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy as usual leading the attack but Kieron Dyer ruled out with a foot injury.