On Saturday, at St. Andrew's, Joe Willock scored a brace as Newcastle United staged a remarkable comeback. They managed to overcome a deficit that occurred just 40 seconds into the game and defeated third - tier Birmingham City 3 - 2, thus advancing to the English FA Cup fifth round.

Birmingham City, the leaders of League One, stunned their Premier League counterparts. Newcastle United had made nine changes to the team that triumphed over Arsenal in midweek to reach the League Cup final. Ethan Laird gave Birmingham an early lead, scoring from the first corner of the match. The ball was nodded on to Laird, and after the first corner, it took a deflection off Callum Wilson before finding the net.

The first half was a fast - paced and frenetic affair, played in heavy rain. Willock equalized in a somewhat controversial manner. Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock - Farrell parried Willock's shot, but the assistant referee signaled that the ball had crossed the goal line. Since there was no VAR (Video Assistant Referee) at this stage of the competition, the goal was allowed to stand.

Wilson stabbed home five minutes later to send Newcastle 2-1 up but Birmingham equalised in the 40th minute through a long-range Tomoki Iwata strike that gave goalkeeper Nick Pope no chance.

Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali then came on for Newcastle after the break and helped calm things down after a scrappy ending to the first 45 minutes.

Man-of-the-match Willock grabbed the winner in the 82nd minute with an angled shot through the keeper's legs to see the Magpies through.

The 12 minutes of extra time gave Birmingham a chance but Newcastle held firm, bringing on rested top scorer Alexander Isak for the final seconds when William Osula came off after a clash of heads.

The full - time whistle has blown. Newcastle United defeated third - tier team Birmingham City 3 - 2 and successfully advanced to the next round of the English FA Cup.