Newcastle turned in their worst performance of the season at Stevenage this afternoon, and their completely woeful performance  gave Stevenage an easy victory by  3-1, with two goals in injury time to each side, but in truth it was fully deserved by this plucky Stevenage side, who recorded the greatest win their history.

Unfortunately for this Newcastle side their performance today was a lot worse than the result – that’s what is so unacceptable – the performance – and if you don’t believe us watch the game sometime – but only if you are brave enough to be humiliated.

And to make things a lot lot worse, Cheick Tiote managed to get himself sent off in the second half, with a straight red card –  and will now miss the next three Newcastle league games.

The performance this afternoon will go down in Newcastle’s history as one of their worst displays ever in the famous FA Cup competition – it was as bad as that – and even worse.

The game kicked off and Newcastle showed they were ready for the game and started quite well.

Early in the game Kevin Nolan got hit in the face with the ball, and he seemed to have a slight cut just beneath the eye, which was already swelling up as he re-entered the field of play, and it could affect his vision as the game progressed.

But Stevenage also started the game well and things were very even for the first 20 minutes or so of the game, with James Perch again in an unfamiliar position at left back, being a natural right footed player.

In the 31st minute Bostwick had a good shot at Newcastle’s goal and Krul had to make a sharp save down to his right as he shoved the ball around the post for a corner.

It was a good save from Newcastle’s promising young Dutch goalkeeper, and the corner was easily cleared.

Newcastle were playing safe and quite solid at this stage,  and were looking to make no mistakes to let Stevenage into this game, as they tried to play neat and tidy football.

Newcastle were finding it hard to find their two strikers Best and Lovenkrands up-field and too often, the long crosses were easily cleared by the two tall Stevenage central defenders. Best and Lovenkrands were not getting a look in at all.

On 36 minutes Long made a good run down the left wing and cut inside and the ball was scrambled away for a corner by Tim Krul, as Stevenage were having more of the play than Newcastle.

As half time approached the 5 man Stevenage midfield was starting to get a grip of the game and win the central midfield from Newcastle, who were starting to look increasingly hesitant at the back.

And Newcastle had absolutely no bite at all in midfield and were certainly missing Cheick Tiote.

Half time came, and if anything Stevenage were  the better side, and certainly the more enterprising side in the first half, and little had been seen of the two Newcastle strikers, Lovenkrands and Best.

Newcastle were missing the enterprising Enrique as neither full back was able to get forward and as we said before they were badly missing Tiote – who was on the bench.

And early in the second half Stevenage got exactly what they needed – the first goal – and it was really lucky, but fortune favors the brave and at least Stevenage were moving forward.

Long worked the ball well on the left wing, moved inside and then got the ball back and from 25 yards he hit a shot at goal and it deflected off Williamson into the goal and to Krul’s right, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

It was a lucky goal no doubt, and they had at least deserved their luck as at this point Newcastle were not even at the races and we were wondering what our two strikers were doing as the midfield couldn’t get a grip at all.

Newcastle needed to get a grip and wake up – otherwise they would be out of the FA Cup at the very first hurdle.

Best was replaced by Nile Ranger, and today we hardly saw Leon Best at all.

On 54 minutes Stevenage went further ahead when Bostwick hit a great shot from the right, which went in off a post and it was 2-0 to Stevenage – and on merit too – as Newcastle seemed in a complete daze and not able to get going at all.

On 56 minutes Tiote came on for Smith who had been completely ineffective.

With the fourth division side two goals up against Newcastle, this was looking like a complete disaster for the Newcastle side, who up to this point had looked utterly hopeless.

Things only got worse for Newcastle when Tiote made a terrible challenge on Jon Ashton and he was sent off with a straight red card – and presumably misses the next three league games – this is turning into a complete calamity for Newcastle United.

Newcastle just couldn’t get going at all and looked a complete rabble as they made mistake after mistake – and Pardew brought on Phil Airey, born in Amble for his Newcastle debut.

Then on 90 minutes Joey Barton showed  a little of his class,  when he hit a rocket into the net and it was 2-1.

But the day continued to go dead against Newcastle, as Stevenage from the kick off attacked, and Long got involved again and played in Winn, and the Stevenage player chipped the ball nicely over Krul and it was 3-1.

Te final whistle went and it was the upset of the day in the 3rd round of the FA Cup – the exact thing we all didn’t want – as the famous fighting Magpies were a complete disgrace to the Newcastle club this afternoon.

And I use my words wisely and I am trying not to over-react too much to this terrible result – but it’s the performance that was just completely unacceptable and woeful this afternoon.

It’s bad enough to be eliminated from the FA Cup by a fourth division side, but to also lose one of your best players for the next three league games is a disaster for Newcastle and will no doubt count us points in the league, and after this performance don’t anybody even think Newcastle are safe in the Premier League.

Even towards the end of the game Newcastle just never got going, and they were not only an embarrassment to themselves but even to the Premier League – they were that bad – make that terrible.

The Newcastle side just didn’t turn up today and look for a big inquest on just what they were drinking or smoking before this game, because this is their worst performance of the season and the performance this afternoon has shamed the Newcastle United club.

One thing that Newcastle fans should demand is an inquest into why this team put in  a performance which reminded us all of the listless and depressing displays in our relegation season.

And if this is anything about what is to come at Newcastle for the rest of the season, then  we’ll be playing Championship football next season.

It was an utter and complete disgrace by the Newcastle team this afternoon.

This was completely and utterly unacceptable and we expect an apology and an explanation from both the Newcastle manager and the players.

Shame on them. And we beat West Ham 5-0 four days ago?

Alan Pardew will quickly lose the support of the Newcastle fans if he lets the Newcastle team put in any more performances like this one – and we cannot think Mike Ashley will be happy as this is  the worst defeat of Newcastle since he’s been the owner.

I’ve seen a lot of  poor and lifeless displays in my 61 years of watching Newcastle United football club, but this one today, at least  in the second half,  may be the most shameful of them all.

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To try to end on a positive note – congratulations to Stevenage,  who won this game on  merit and showed guts and spirit to record the greatest win in their history.

Congratulations.

If you are in the mood you may want to vote for the Newcastle man of the Match on our home page.