Report and reaction as Albion reach FA Cup quarter-finals

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Substitute Danny Welbeck strikes in extra time as Albion beat Newcastle United 2-1 at St James' Park.

Bruce Talbot

2025-03-02T17:50+00:00

Our match winner. 📷 by James Boardman.

Danny Welbeck’s extra-time goal earned Albion a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals as they came from behind to beat Newcastle in a thriller at St James’ Park.

Alexander Isak’s penalty midway through the first half had broken the deadlock but Yankuba Minteh, whose foul led to the spot-kick, made amends with a calm finish just before the break against the club he once represented but never played for.

Anthony Gordon was shown a red card for violent conduct and Tariq Lamptey picked up a second yellow in stoppage time to make it 10 v 10 in extra time.

But Albion defended gallantly and then struck in the 114th minute when Solly March’s pass picked out fellow substitute Welbeck for his seventh goal of the season.

12 Yankuba Minteh makes up for his error

Isak should have scored in the third minute. Harvey Barnes stood up a cross to the far post and Isak's header was superbly blocked by Adam Webster before the Swede hoisted the rebound over the bar from four yards out.

Albion fell behind in the 22nd minute when Minteh’s clumsy challenge on the edge of the box on Tino Livramento resulted in a penalty which Isak slammed into the top corner.

Isak had the ball in the net again ten minutes later but was offside. The home side’s attacking threat was real and present but two minutes before the break Albion levelled.

Lamptey and Joao Pedro combined on the right and the Brazilian’s clever pass enabled Minteh to elude Fabian Schar and beat Nick Pope from ten yards, although the last touch may have come off covering defender Kieran Tripper.

Kaoru Mitoma gets to the ball ahead of Sandro Tonali. 📷 James Boardman.

Albion began the second half strongly and Dubravka athletically kept out Joao’s powerful shot after the Brazilian had ghosted past two defenders to create the chance.

As fatigue began to set in space opened up. Jack Hinshelwood bravely blocked another powerful Isak shot and Joe Willock somehow glanced a free header wide from six yards, but on transition still carried a threat and all it needed was someone to apply the finish to a flowing 74th-minute move which ended with Mitoma tricking his way to the line and pulling the ball across the face of goal.

With seven minutes of the 90 to go Newcastle went down to ten men when Anthony Gordon shoved Jan Paul van Hecke as they chased the ball in the box and was shown a red card for violent conduct.

Advantage Albion? Only briefly. Tariq Lamptey evened things up when his second yellow card, for a foul on Jacob Murphy in stoppage time, made it 10 v 10 going into extra time.

Georginio Rutter challenges Kieran Trippier. 📷 James Boardman

Diego Gomez was denied by a brilliant one-handed save from Dubravka nine minutes into extra time before Albion struck the winner with six minutes to go. Solly March burst forward and slid a lovely ball to Welbeck who lifted his finish over Dubravka and into the roof of the net. Albion stood firm for the remaining minutes before celebrating with the 1200 travelling fans. A day to remember!

The line-up

Verbruggen, Lamptey, Webster, van Hecke, Estupinan (Wieffer 79), Minteh (Gruda 68), Baleba (Gomez 68), Hinshelwood, Mitoma (March 90+1), Rutter (Welbeck 79). Joao Pedro.