FA Cup: Solano ruins Keegan's Newcastle return

Newcastle 1 Man City 0

Kevin Keegan had a bitter-sweet return to St James’ Park as Newcastle’s Nolberto Solano settled this hard-fought FA Cup fifth-round tie against Manchester City.

Keegan, who received a marvellous reception from the Newcastle fans who still idolise him, saw Richard Dunne sent off in the first half for a professional foul before Solano netted his 10th goal of the season on 59 minutes.

Alan Shearer, with 19 goals already to his name this season, had the first shot of note with a rasping right-foot effort which curled just wide of Nicky Weaver’s left-hand post.

Craig Bellamy’s pace would be a vital weapon for Newcastle and from one fleet-footed run at the City defence, he just failed to play in Laurent Robert when Steve Howey got his foot to the ball.

Bellamy then scampered away down the left before teeing up Shearer whose thunderous drive cannoned off Paul Ritchie.

City had yet to get going up front and on a couple of occasions former Magpie Darren Huckerby squandered great opportunities to put in a telling cross.

Newcastle continued to ask all the questions in this fast and furious cup tie and Gary Speed should have done better when he screwed his shot wide from Nolberto Solano’s pass.

Robert forced Weaver into making the first save of the match on 23 minutes when City could only clear Jamie McClen’s cross as far as the French winger and he let fly with a volley.

City managed their first decent effort on goal when Eyal Berkovic curled a free-kick over the crossbar.

City’s task against Newcastle became even harder in the 29th minute when they had Richard Dunne sent off for a professional foul.

Shearer had flicked on Shay Given’s clearance to Bellamy and as he approached the edge of the area, Dunne bundled him over.

It was clearly a sending-off offence, but referee Alan Wiley consulted his assistant referee before showing Dunne the red card.

Newcastle failed to capitalise on the free-kick and Solano touched the ball to Shearer, who fired into the City wall.

Shearer then had a shout for a penalty rejected when he went down under a challenge from Niclas Jensen before Bellamy put the ball into the back of the net only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

City might have scored in first-half stoppage time when Berkovic released Huckerby on the left and he slid the ball just wide after Given had come racing out of his goal.

Keegan made a change to his 4-4-1 formation at half-time and brought Richard Edghill on for Huckerby and moved Shaun Wright-Phillips forward into midfield.

City looked more compact for the change and began the second half confidently.

Indeed they might have scored when Berkovic slipped in Wright-Phillips on the right and his shot came off Given’s legs and trundled wide.

Newcastle were struggling to control the game as they had done in the first half and City’s travelling support began to sense an upset.

The game was opening up nicely and Aaron Hughes had a point-blank effort from Bellamy’s right-wing cross saved by Weaver.

Newcastle then caught City napping to open the scoring on 59 minutes. Speed played the ball across to Solano on the right, who shrugged off Tiatto, took the ball round Weaver and then slotted home into the empty net for his 10th goal of the season.

Robert went close to a second when he curled a free-kick on the right-hand side of the area narrowly over.

Elliott preserved Newcastle’s lead when he deflected Paulo Wanchope’s shot wide for a corner and then Kevin Horlock headed across the face of the goal.

After Steve Howey had nearly knocked the ball into his own net, Ritchie denied Newcastle a second at the death when he cleared Bellamy’s shot off the line.