Ba then hit the post when he made a decent chance for himself. He spent all the first half playing up front on his own. I assume Ben Arfa was supposed to be the support player but was never near enough to Ba to take advantage when the big man won the ball. In fact Ben Arfa was woeful tonight so I hope that was a blip.

Davide Santon started at left back and showed a willingness to get forward but something of a relucatance to get back and cover when he’d lost the ball – which he did regularly. He seemed to lack strength and was knocked off the abll far too easily. He moved to right back later on but to be honest, I was far from impressed on this showing.

A word at this stage about the referee. He was shite. For a start, he is very inexperienced at this level. I saw him make a far few cock ups in a League 2 game 10 days ago so I had an idea what to expect.

Blackburn’s second goal was a result of his total incompetence. Ba broke into the box and was hauled over by Samba. Everyone in the ground could see this was a pen – expect the ref who waved play on. Blackburn cleared the ball forward and proceeded to win their own penalty – probably was but that’s not the point.

It should have been 1-1 and instead we found ourselves two down. Ba spent the time during which they were preparing to take the pen remonstrating with the liner and fourth official – in this he was supported by Pardew!

I thought there was a fair chance that Pardew was going to deck one of the officials he was getting so upset at what was going on. In the first half a free kick was given against Colo when the ball was hit against his hand from about a yard. When a Blackburn defender handled in the box when the ball hit his hand from about three yards – no pen. When anothere free kick was given outside the area for a third such offence Pardew nearly blew a gasket.

We were a bit better in the second half without really troubling their keeper too much. We seemed to lack urgency and never got behind them down the flanks until late on. Marveaux didn’t see a lot of the ball in decent positions and Jonas had two men on him every time he was in possession.

Then came added time. We were chucking men forward without getting much joy then Guthrie popped a great shot in from about 30 yards. He’d had a rather mixed night – he lacks real creativity and isn’t as effective defensively as Tiote. Good goal though but. It was only when that goal went in that I realised we were far from the only Newcastle fans in the Jack Walker Stand!

There were still two minutes of the added five (mainly due to their time wasting) but I never expected what happened next! In the fifth minutes of added time we got a free kick about 25 yards out. Mr J said “he’ll have to shoot cos the ref is gonner blow”. So Cabaye shot – and it went in!! Last kick of the 90 apart from the kick off when the ref blew his whistle straight away. Amazing.

So extra time started with us on a high and them looking fed up. We were pressing more but they got a free kick about 25-30 yards out. Morten Gamst Pedersen shot, it took a wicked deflecttion and went in the bottom corner. So we just kept attacking and Lovely pants was pulled over as he was about to shoot. Ref never saw it of course and ended up giving a corner but the liner was signalling for a penalty. Lovely pants put it away with ease.

At this point, the Toon fans in the Jack Walker were on their feet cheering the goal and some sad git behind me went and complained to a steward saying he should throw them out. The steward basically told him to bog off!

Sadly, the heroics at Forest weren’t to be repeated. They got a free kick which Pedersen chipped to the far post when Samba won his header and Givet nodded in. Now I can only think the liner thought Givet had come from behind the ball because if he hadn’t he was well offside there being none of our players withing a country mile of him.

Colo nodded one over the bar in the dying seconds but that was that. Shame really. Man of the Match?? The 5,000 Toon fans who made up half the crowd and sang all night.

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Forest is, as history tells, a team where we never can beat in any competitive cup run before last night. My credits to AP who written a new chapter against them in the League Cup 3rd round, at their own ground. With the full 120 minutes of live report through an internet radio, we started not so well against them, a typical of cup run that we often saw from the Magpies but thank God it’s ended in high excitement!

Only three players that started on last Saturday match at Villa Park also playing on this cup match, with the longwait returning Ben Arfa looked excellent and produced some great services for the main striker Peter Lovenkrands.

Ben Arfa playing just behind him, and his passing was as great as before his terrible broken leg injury. He also did one excellent run in the second half, covered around 50 yards and went past about 4 players before he sets the ball up to Lovenkrands who unfortunately shot it right to Forest keeper.

Our first goal of the night was coming in the 39th minute from Ben Arfa great crossfield pass to his fellow compatriot Sylvain Marveaux who then delivered a delicate cross into the box for Lovenkrands who took the ball in with unstoppable close-range header. Forest then levelled the score with Findley who was allowed to marching towards before unleashing about 30 yards shot past despairing Toon third choice goalkeeper Rob Elliot and in to the bottom corner.

Everyone’s man of the match for the game, Sylvain Marveaux set us up to lead again with his run into the box before Brendan Moloney haul him back inside the penalty box. Referee Lee Mason no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Lovenkrands converted the penalty very well.

Within six minutes into the second half, Forest back on terms for a second time when Derbyshire got in behind our defenders and rounded Elliot with ease to slide the ball into an empty net. And just when I was expecting either one of the Ameobi brothers or Marveaux finally to score, it was Danny Simpson’s 93rd-minute cross that flewed into the back of the net.

The scoreboard shows 3-4 for us until the very last six minutes of extra time remaining and when I thought we are now comfortable to win this and through to the next round, the home side substitute Ishmael Miller’s breaks through from our right side of the field and cross the ball pass the packed of Newcastle’s defense and Elliott before Tudgay tapped in the easy ball from close range.

It looks like our faith has to be decided with penalty shoot-out as the clock runs down to an end of extra time. I bet everyone within the Black-and-White shirts are all held their breath at the City Ground when Newcastle’s substitute Gabriel Obertan fired the ball in from his run down the left.

It was Fabricio Coloccini that enhanced his Toon cult-hero status with his last-gasp winner with a header in the second minute of injury time before the end of extra-time. Toon bench celebrating, the travelling Toon Army erupted and everyone around the globe screaming as we are now surely in the fourth round of Carling Cup.

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After we beat Coventry City 3-2 at the Ricoh Arena on Tuesday night, we are one step closer to this season silverware, and more closer after we have Spurs in the third round. If we can beat them, then we have eliminate one of the pundit favorite to be the next member of what so called the ‘Top Four’ and also the defending champion of Carling Cup.

To be honest, I have seen so rare to have a home tie for Newcastle in any domestic cup recently, and to have one this year would be a sign of something. As Bob Moncur said on the Chronicle, “You always want a home draw and I see this as a good tie for Newcastle.”

The other reason why I Luv It is we will have the chance to show to their new signing Luka Modric, who also have been linked with us and was reported being so close to wear the Black-and-Whites, before ‘something’ else suddenly changed his mind.

Modric will saw what he didn’t see while playing in any other Premierships club stadium, the crowd that was so passionate, the support, and the sacred atmospheres that only available at St. James.

Full draw for Carling Cup third round:
Arsenal v Sheff Utd
Brighton or Man City v Derby
Burnley v Fulham
Portsmouth v Chelsea
Blackburn v Everton
Rotherham v Southampton
Swansea v Cardiff
Ipswich v Wigan
Stoke v Reading
Leeds v Hartlepool
Watford v West Ham
Man Utd v Middlesbrough
Liverpool v Crewe
Aston Villa v QPR
Sunderland v Northampton
Newcastle v Tottenham

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Newcastle United have been learn alot from Arsenal last night. Not because we are the bad side, but we must admit that Arsenal has the more sufficient squad and looks very well prepared to face any challenge this season.

For almost 90 minutes we can face them and responding well against their never-ending attack from every side. That’s the good point from last night that we are now have the reliable defenders, although we only play against mostly their bairns, but they are very good indeed to test our defence.

Shay Given especially, although he didn’t have enough game this season but he still sharp and good in reaction. That’s another good point from our performance yesterday.

Our midfield also playing quite well, unfortunately we didn’t have enough cover on this part. We still waiting for the players that being injured to get back, and once they are fit again, we will not have to worry about the squad depth in this part of our team.

Attacking side. Well, what can I say? This is the weakness part of our side yesterday. We are missed Owen and Viduka very much last night. Martins and Ameobi looks not ready to play. Both have a bad game.

I noticed that Martins have one good chance to scores last night but, his shoot was too soft and was cleared by Arsenal defender although he has rounded Fabiansky and only the goal to beat. While Ameobi? Ah….

In general, we have the chance to win last night, but only lady luck was not on our side. We have just play last Sunday in a tough game too against West Ham, while Arsenal only have to “beat” Derby. With only one day of rest, I can understand why Milner and N’Zogbia cannot give their best performance.

At last, BSA will start to hunting from now for the next January transfer window, and we still need more attacking type of players and one creative midfield. We will be more better in second round of the Premier League. Next Year no one will be able to playing joke on Newcastle United anymore.

Howay the Lads!!!

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Sam Allardyce making several changes from the team that beat West Ham last Sunday. As predicted before, Given is return to the goal while Enrique makes his second appearance for Newcastle United tonight.

Abdoulaye faye also make his debut for Toon, while Shola finally play to replaced once again foot injury casualty Viduka. He will be play alongside Martins.

Harper, Viduka, Owen and Caçapa are all absent, while Geremi and Butt rested on the bench. Alan Smith is being honoured to wear the skipper ban for this game.

We have one good chance to get infront in 10 minutes when Martins header has forced the Arsenal’s Poland goalkeeper Fabianski acrobatically repelling the ball off from Jose Enrique’s left-wing cross.

The home side have its own chance in 17 minutes. Traore attacks the Newcastle’ touchline before cutting the ball back for the Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, but his header clears out of Given’s goal by Rozehnal.

Quite interesting match tonight with both sides have covering the field with their second strings. Shay Given has one good save for 38minutes Eboue’s 25-yard low strike. Half-Time result still goalles.

Second-half started with the Gunners throwing all the blazing bullets on Newcastle’ side, but we have defending well with two great saves from Given. Taylor and N’Zogbia also having a clear out.

Eboue is really causing some trouble on our side, but Taylor has a perfect timed sliding-tackle to denied him and force the ball into corner.

Emre takes into the field in 60 minutes replacing the “Done Nothing” Ameobi. Another disappointing performance from Shola, and I think he will have to start learning back in reserve team before making another appearance in senior squad.

The home side also make a substitution in 64 minutes when Abou Diaby coming on to replace the “Now Tired and Frustrated” Emmanuel Eboue.

The Arsenal side keep pushing forward and trying on every side but once again we have responded well, and Given also showing that he is still one of the best goalkeeper in the land by tipping-off several shoots from the home side.

Nicky Butt, come in to replace the looks tired James Milner in 70 minutes, and it looks like BSA now playing 4-5-1 formation with Faye, Butt, Emre, N’Zogbia and Smith, while Martins stands as the lone fighter in front.

And, finally what I have been worried about since the kick-off is happened when Bendtner cracking header from Traore crosses, breaks the deadlock in 83 minutes. Too bad, after going on defending well this far, we have to missed that one, but actually it was a great goal by the Danish striker.

It is even worst since then, as we are now looking to give the game up after playing so well against the Arsenal’s bairns. Denilson make it two with minute to end, and It is clearly we are in no need of any hope.

Well, at least we have learn something tonight from their side, and when the time is right we will beat them on the League match

Howay the Lads!!!

Team Line Up:

Newcastle United: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, David Rozehnal, Steven Taylor, Abdoulaye Faye, Alan Smith, James Milner (Nicky Butt – 70 min), Charles N’Zogbia, Obafemi Martins, Shola Ameobi (Emre – 60 min).
Subs: Fraser Forster, Geremi, David Edgar.

Arsenal: Lukasz Fabianski, Philippe Senderos, Lassana Diarra, Eduardo, Denilson, Alex Song, Nicklas Bendtner, Emmanuel Eboue (Abou Diaby – 64), Armand Traore, Justin Hoyte, Theo Walcott.
Subs: Henri Lansbury, Vito Mannone, Gavin Hoyte, Fran Merida.

Ref: Howard Webb

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