First, the linesman Nigel Lugg, a former warehouse operations manager from Croydon, ruled Bailey Peacock-Farrell had not quite made an astonishing save to keep out Joe Willock’s close-range shot then, four minutes later, Wilson nudged in from even closer range after Osula, two yards out in front of an open goal, had somehow smacked the ball into the back of his standing leg.
It didn’t take long for any lingering sense of well-being to evaporate, as Birmingham took the lead within 43 seconds, Ethan Laird lashing in via Callum Wilson’s boot after Kieran Dowell’s corner had been headed back across goal by Keshi Anderson.
Having overseen relegation in their first season, the consortium headed by Tom Wagner and fronted by Tom Brady that owns Birmingham has invested heavily in an attempt to secure a return to the Championship, spending £30m this season, around half of that on bringing in Jay Stansfield from Fulham.
Joe Willock doubles up as Newcastle edge out Birmingham in thriller A wet evening, a slick pitch and two committed teams and suddenly the FA Cup doesn’t seem in quite such a troubled state.
The Japan international’s strike was not enough to prevent Newcastle reaching the fifth round, but it was the highlight of a performance from which Birmingham will draw not merely a lot of pride but also encouragement that they will be able to cope at the higher level if they go up to the Championship.
