Draw ups Big Sam pressure
Newcastle clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday
Sunday, 06, Jan 2008 08:08
Newcastle United have been held to a 0-0 draw by Stoke City in the FA Cup third round at the Britannia Stadium.
The Magpies survived a late onslaught by the home side to force a replay at St James Park.
But the result cranks up the pressure on boss Sam Allardyce, as his side are winless in their last five games.
Michael Owen partnered Mark Viduka up front for the visitors while the Championship high flyers started with Ricardo Fuller, Andy Wilkinson and Carl Dickinson.
The first-half was drab affair with both sides struggling with the treacherous conditions.
The game sprang to life in the 26th minute when Owen was sent clear but goalkeeper Steve Simonsen sprinted out and smothered the ball before the England striker could pull the trigger.
A minute later, the home side broke on the counter attack with Fuller's shot towards goal blocked.
On the stroke of half-time, Liam Lawrence curled a free-kick over the bar after Alan Smith had hauled down Mamady Sidibe.
The Magpies should have taken the lead at the start of the second half when Steven Taylor headed Charles N'Zogbia's free-kick on to the post, with Owen then failing to connect with Damien Duff's cross.
Stoke, who are unbeaten in their last ten matches, came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on 66 minutes when Taylor hacked Jon Parkin's close-range effort off the line.
Taylor continued to save the Magpies, with the centre-back blocking Fuller's goal-bound strike 15 minutes from time.
Stoke continued their onslaught with former Portsmouth striker Fuller forcing Shay Given into a fine save with a low shot.
In stoppage time, N'Zogbia's low cross was met by Andy Carroll with the 19-year-old's shot hitting the outside of the post.
A Newcastle winner would have been hard on the Championship side, however, and they will now look forward to a return match on Tyneside.