Albion v Newcastle - from The Amex (From The Argus)

2:44pm

Apologies for a late break in service towards the end of the game due to - what it has to be said - were very rare connection problems here. But, like Albion, we got there in the end after just a few anxious moments!

2:28pm

Albion will take their place in the fourth round draw tomorrow - with Crawley and Hastings preparing to kick-off on Sussex's "Super Saturday"

2:27pm

Ankergren ensured a clean sheet with a fine save from Ranger in the final moments.

2:11pm

Crofts replaced Hammond in the 83rd minute.

2:11pm

The hosts at last had a period of possession. They got the ball out to David, who intelligently stretched play back to the left with a pass to LuaLua. The sub rolled the ball back to Bridge whose deflected shot was not far wide of the far post.

2:09pm

2:08pm

Nerves were on edge now among the home support.

2:08pm

Greer then deflected an awkward cross perilously towards his own goal but Ankergren reached out his left hand to swat it away from the top corner.

2:06pm

Att: 21,740 (1,978 away)

2:05pm

Newcastle were now the more forceful team.

2:05pm

Marveaux would have made a big impact very quickly but for great work by Briductt. The Frenchman let fly with a goalbound volley as the ball was allowed to bounce around the Albion area but Bridcutt flung himself into the path of the shot, which caught his leg and deflected over. Anita headed over from the flag kick.

1:59pm

Hoskins replaced Mackail-Smith in the 71st minute while Marveaux - clearly popular with the away fans - went on for Toon with Obertan making way.

1:58pm

Albion, though, had let slip too many leads this season for their fans to be totally comfortable with the 1-0 advantage going into the final quarter of the tie.

1:55pm

1:54pm

Choruses of Sussex By The Sea were booming around The Amex as Albion sensed the tie was there for the taking.

1:49pm

Orlandi was giving a standing ovation as his contribution ended and LuaLua a big cheer as his started when Albion made their first switch on the hour.

1:47pm

Albion then threatened as Dicker burst through the middle and spread play left to Orlandi. The Spaniard looked to thread a return pass in from the left but the hard-working Bigirimana got across to nick the ball away from Dicker on the edge of the box.

1:44pm

It had been quite a quiet opening to the half although Ranger sent a shot horribly high over the bar right in front of the Toon fans in the South Stand.

1:40pm

Shola Ameobi was booked for a foul on Dicker in midfield in the 47th minute.

1:38pm

1:38pm

1:36pm

Albion thought they had got Mackail-Smith in on goal after a neat move involving Dicker - but the striker was blocked off and ref Probert was happy there was no foul.

1:34pm

Second half in progress. Newcastle have brought on Ranger and Dummett for Abeid and Perch

1:18pm

There was a minor alarm for the Seagulls in the one added minute as Santon's nice pass got Obertan in behind the right side of the defence. David recovered to get a foot in and ease the ball away from the Toon man before El-Abd completed the clearance.

1:17pm

Half-time

1:17pm

Newcastle looked for a quick reply but Shola Ameobi's low on-target but underhit effort was easy for Ankergren to gather.

Abeid was booked for a foul - and the hosts might have doubled their lead moments later. Orlandi's deep free-kick found the runs of both El-Abd and Hammond beyond the last defender. But El-Abd looked to control the dropping ball rather than use his head and the ball bounced off him for a goal kick.

1:04pm

Bigirimana, Abeid and Anita were starting to put Albion's midfield passers under more pressure - but the hosts went long to stunning effect in the 33rd minute.

1:01pm

1:00pm

Hammond was booked for a foul in the build-up to that Toon chance.

12:58pm

That scare came on 22 minutes and underlined that Newcastle were coming more into the game.

12:57pm

Bigirimana then stung Ankergren's hands with a shot which was powerfully struck but straight at the keeper when Albion lost possession deep in their own half. Ankergren could only push the ball away but El-Abd just about scrambled the rebound away from Sammy Ameobi and behind for a corner with a diving header.

12:54pm

David had made a very bright start but his failure to beat the first man from a great crossing opportunity gave Newcatle chance to counter attack. Obertan made a lot of ground down their right before his low cross was intercepted by the back-tracking David.

12:49pm

Albion continued to enjoy a lot of possession and David took just about everyone - bar Steve Elliot - by surprise on the quarter-hour. Barnes played the ball wide to the right-back close to the byline and, rather than cross, he unleashed a ferocious right-foot shot which the recalled keeper did well to cling on to above his head.

12:46pm

12:44pm

I just used a tweet from Lee Ryder, who covers Newcastle as chief sports writer at the Evening Chronicle.

12:43pm

12:42pm

Albion raised the volume levels around The Amex by going close in the ninth minute. David produced a great bit of skill to keep a crossfield pass in play tight to the byline and then beat his man. His deep cross picked out Dicker beyond the far post and the recalled midfielder managed to head the ball back across and seemingly goalbound until Perch nodded away from beneath his own crossbar.

12:37pm

12:36pm

Then room was created for Bridge to gallop forward down the left and get in a deep cross. Barnes headed it back at full stretch but he was offside when the ball then ricocheted back to him.

12:35pm

Albion's start could not have been much more encouraging. Hammond sent Mackail-Smith away down the right to get in a cross which was blocked behind. Dicker and Orlandi worked a dangerous short corner which had Toon struggling to clear before Hammond skied a shot into the South Stand under pressure.

12:30pm

No change of ends. Albion go North to South in the first half.

12:29pm

12:27pm

12:27pm

Newcastle, badly hit by injuries, look to be lining up 4-2-3-1 with Shola Ameobi the focal point of their attack.

12:26pm

Team news and line-up were posted elsewhere on this site some time ago but Ankergren is in goal for Albion - his first game since New Year's Eve last season - and Buckley and LuaLua are both among an array of attacking options on the bench. 

12:24pm

They are laying out the red carpet for the players at The Amex. Well, okay, it’s a black carpet with a Budweiser logo on it down by the tunnel. But there is a real big match feel here today. Just like last year – and indeed 1983 -  the Toon are in town on FA Cup day.