Newcastle United 3, Bradford City 0; match report, by Richard Sutcliffe.

Anyone tuning into the radio to hear the final score from St James' Park on Saturday will have heard that Bradford City had crashed 3-0 and presumed that the Premiership class of Newcastle had shone through.

However the flattering victory margin told only half the story because although it is Ruud Gullit's men who are in the fifth round, City illustrated in the first 50 minutes of an absorbing tie just why they may be back on Tyneside in Premiership action next season.

Paul Jewell's side went into the game on the back of such a good run of form that many of the 4,000 strong away following travelled to Newcastle expecting another victory.

Unfortunately for City, the class of Newcastle's strike force of £15 million man Alan Shearer and Temuri Ketsbaia told to put an end to those dreams.

But what the Bantams can draw from this defeat is that, for long spells, they more than matched a Newcastle side whose combined transfer fees would probably dwarf a Third World country's national debt.

In the first half, City created four clear-cut chances, hit the post and saw one penalty appeal turned down as they put the Premiership side under tremendous pressure.

The best chance fell to Gareth Whalley when, following fine work by Lee Mills and Robbie Blake on the half-hour, he managed to sidefoot a shot wide from just six yards when a goal seemed certain.

Newcastle, in contrast, had just two long range efforts from Nolberto Solano to show for their efforts before their first impressive move of the game in the 32nd minute opened up the Bantams defence.

Shearer, whose lack of service from his team-mates must be a huge worry to Gullit, set the goal up with a perfect return pass to Ketsbaia.

The Georgian's shot was saved by Gary Walsh only for Dietmar Hamann to stroke the rebound into an empty net.

That goal was rough luck on City but, as the second half proved, you cannot afford to miss your chances against top-flight teams because they will punish you for any slip ups.

Stuart McCall, who went closest to grabbing a goal for City when his header struck a post, worked tirelessly in the centre of the field to drive his team-mates forward and the 3-0 scoreline was very harsh on the skipper.

Robbie Blake shone on his return to his native North East with some impressive approach play.

It prompted two Newcastle fans sat behind the press box to venture the opinion at half-time that the 22-year-old reminded them of former Toon Army hero Peter Beardsley.

Unfortunately for City, Blake's superb work outside the penalty area was not matched in it with one miss in the 52nd minute proving extremely costly.

The City striker was played in behind the home defence by a fine ball from Whalley but after racing to within ten yards of goal, he put his shot wide with Lee Mills standing unmarked, although possible offside, alongside him.

Thirty seconds later and a Given goal-kick was flicked on by Ketsbaia for Shearer and he underlined his class by making no mistake with his only chance of the game.

That strike effectively ended the tie with Newcastle well on top for the final 30 minutes or so as City's players seemed to sense they were out.

City poured forward and Darren Moore had one good chance after an exquisite turn in the United penalty area, but otherwise it was Newcastle who were by far the more dangerous side.

This pressure eventually paid off when Ketsbaia gave the scoreline a slightly flattering look with the third goal to round off a fine individual performance with just five minutes remaining.

Despite the three-goal defeat, City can take heart from the fact that for long periods of this game they played the more impressive football.

And as they prepare for the vital trip to promotion-chasing Birmingham City on Sunday, Jewell's men can also note they won't face a First Division strike force who are half as deadly as Shearer and Ketsbaia for the rest of the season.

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