Sight of Skinner made me fear the worst in FA Cup draw

By Lee Ryder on Jan 3, 10 06:37 PM

I had a bad feeling the moment I found out that West Brom nut Frank Skinner was going to be plucking out the balls in the FA Cup fourth round draw.

The moment he appeared on the box I just thought back to the Hawthorns in August and the prospect of going back there.

Of course, we've got to finish the job against Plymouth Argyle first but the prospect of facing the Baggies now sets up a frantic week in the season of Newcastle United.

Back in August, Skinner had been present in the Press box at West Brom along with his big mate Adrian Chiles and in the pie queue and still in relegation depression mode (at a worse stage than it's at now) I thought that the last thing we need is TV celebs dancing around on our arrival to the Championship or what we all really knows is the Second Division.

But 90 minutes later after Tim Krul's heroics and a Damien Duff equaliser, respect was still in tact.

However, since then this team has grown and so has our beliefs and expectations.

Now the possibility of facing West Brom home and away in a week gives us the chance to really shape our season.

There will be plenty of you out there who would take the three points ahead of a place in the fifth round.

But in a competition that has resulted in Leeds knocking out Man United today anything should be possible.

So far Newcastle's performances in the Championship have been solid but unspectacular and that could suit Newcastle in what will now be a big week later this month.

It's a chance to pull away in the Championship and sicken our title rivals in the FA Cup in one fell swoop.

In summary the away day at Plymouth was long but on reflection in the FA Cup, staying in it is all that counts.