Newcastle United 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
The FA Cup, Sixth Round
13 March 2005, 4.00pm
St. James' Park



Alan Shearer's FA Cup dream lives on, but he has Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given to thank for that.

The Republic of Ireland international performed a world-class double save to deny Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe in a pulsating FA Cup quarter-final clash at St. James' Park.

Shearer, who plans to retire at the end of the season, is desperate to sign off with the silverware that has eluded him in his near-nine years back on his native Tyneside.

The 34-year-old striker set up Patrick Kluivert for the only goal after five minutes, but the pivotal moments came when Given saved one-handed from Keane and then foiled Defoe from the rebound.

Spurs had the better chances, but Kluivert's strike proved decisive as Newcastle clung on in a frantic finale. Now the talk of the Toon is whether Shearer can lift the cup for the Magpies, who last won it half a century ago.

Keane, who had scored in every round of this year's competition, was forced to settle for a place on the bench as Spurs manager Martin Jol opted to start with Defoe and Fredi Kanoute up front.

With such an array of attacking riches, Jol can afford to chop and change. Graeme Souness doesn't have that luxury, but he does possess unequivocal quality in Shearer and Kluivert.

Shearer's sheer strength and determination won the day as he beat England defender Ledley King with a robust challenge on the right and pulled the ball across for Kluivert to fire home first time. It was the Dutchman's 11th goal of the season and second in the competition.

Timothee Atouba was soon enduring a torrid time at the hands of livewire Kieron Dyer and the Spurs left-back was booked after only nine minutes for bringing the England midfielder down.

Jean-Alain Boumsong, back at the heart of the Newcastle defence after being ineligible for Thursday's UEFA Cup victory away to Olympiakos, was next to go into referee Rob Styles' notebook after the official decided he had taken a dive in the area under the challenge of midfielder Michael Brown.

Kanoute then threatened when he spun away from his marker to force a near-post save from Given.

Shearer was forced off to have two staples inserted in a chin wound, but the former England skipper soon returned to the fray.

Defoe turned neatly but shot straight at Given as Spurs desperately sought a way back into the game.

Newcastle lost central defender Titus Bramble after 40 minutes and it necessitated a reshuffle, with midfielder Jermaine Jenas coming on to operate in an emergency left-back role and Aaron Hughes switching into the middle of defence.

Newcastle winger Laurent Robert served up a teasing cross for Kluivert, but he couldn't apply the finish as he homed in on the near post.

Spurs stepped up a gear and Simon Davies should have at least got his shot on target from the edge of the area, but it was always too high to trouble Given.

Jol decided to go for broke just after the hour-mark when he threw on Keane in place of Atouba and adopted a bold three-man attack.

And it might have paid off had it not been for the brilliance of Given, whose heroics drew a standing ovation from the jubilant Geordie faithful.

Team Details

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Given; Carr, Boumsong, Bramble (Jenas, 40) Hughes, Dyer, Bowyer, Faye, Robert (Milner 82 mins), Kluivert (Ameobi, 68), Shearer.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2); Robinson; Pamarot (Marney, 80), Naybet (Gardner, 88), King, Atouba (Keane, 63); Davies, Brown, Carrick, Ziegler; Defoe, Kanoute.

Referee: Rob Styles