It proved a crucial moment, with further goals from Callum Wilson, who fired home from close range in the first half, and Willock, whose second strike with eight minutes remaining settled things, sending Newcastle into the FA Cup fifth round three days after booked their place at Wembley for the final of the Carabao Cup.
Trailing to Ethan Laird’s first-minute strike, Newcastle were in danger of being swept away by a fired-up Birmingham City when Joe Willock fired towards goal shortly before the midway point of the first half.
Cup specialists Newcastle edge past Birmingham after controversial goal For a club who have waited so long for a piece of silverware, Newcastle United are making a pretty decent fist of turning themselves into cup specialists.
Newcastle’s lack of control was surprising given the gap of two divisions separating the teams, and while the decision to replace Bruno Guimaraes with Sandro Tonali at half-time was probably pre-planned, it also felt like an acknowledgement of the visitors’ failings, particularly in midfield, where Birmingham were happy for the game to be as unstructured as possible.
Keshi Anderson was left completely unmarked as he drifted to the back post to meet a corner, and after the ball was headed back across goal, Laird hooked home a first-time volley via a deflection off Wilson.
