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Match Report
 

Weeeee're Going To
Wemberlee...

                          Tranmere Rovers                 2
                                                        Allison '45
                                                        Jones '75
 
                                                   Newcastle United                  3......
                                                  Speed '27
                                                         Domi '37
                                                         Ferguson '59
 
 
                                                       Newcastle United kept their dreams of a third successive FA
                                                       Cup Final appearance alive in a pulsating cup tie at
                                                       Tranmere. Prenton Park has proved a graveyard for
                                                       Premiership clubs on four occasions already this season. But
                                                       although Bobby Robson's side were pushed all the way they
                                                       never really looked like leaving Merseyside empty-handed
                                                       from the moment Gary Speed gave his side a 27th-minute
                                                       lead.

                                                       Didier Domi threatened to end the game as a contest when
                                                       he made it 2-0 nine minutes before the break, but the spirit
                                                       of John Aldridge's men came to the fore and a Wayne
                                                       Allison header put them right back in it on the stroke of
                                                       half-time. Duncan Ferguson's 58th-minute strike restored
                                                       Newcastle's advantage, but Gary Jones threw the result back
                                                       into the melting pot with 14 minutes remaining.

                                                       The resilience the Magpies have shown under Robson came
                                                       to the fore as Tranmere redoubled their efforts to reach a
                                                       second Wembley cup final, and in the end, they just had too
                                                       much for the men from Birkenhead. Robson will have been
                                                       largely pleased with his side's defending, although
                                                       disappointed at the predictable nature of both goals. But in
                                                       Didier Domi, Kieron Dyer and Kevin Gallacher, they had the
                                                       three most enterprising players on the pitch and indeed,
                                                       could have won more comfortably if a post had not denied
                                                       Alan Shearer and keeper Joe Murphy had not pulled off
                                                       several good saves.

                                                       The loss of keeper Steve Harper, who injured an ankle in
                                                       training yesterday, was a major blow for Newcastle, but he
                                                       was at least able to call upon the services of experienced
                                                       international Shay Given to replace him. Domi came in for
                                                       the suspended Rob Lee, but United otherwise kept faith with
                                                       the bulk of the side which beat Manchester United 3-0 last
                                                       week.

                                                       Tranmere made four changes to the side which lost 4-0 at
                                                       Wolves on Wednesday night as Murphy replaced John
                                                       Achterberg in goal and Gary Jones, Gareth Roberts and
                                                       former Magpie David Kelly returned to the starting line-up.
                                                       Newcastle knew they would be up against it from the off,
                                                       and they were not to be disappointed as Rovers launched a
                                                       series of high balls towards Wayne Allison.

                                                       But Nikos Dabizas set the tone for an uncompromising
                                                       defensive display as he enjoyed early successes in the
                                                       aerial battle. But it took a superb save from Given to
                                                       prevent the First Division side taking a fifth-minute lead as
                                                       Nick Henry's clever free-kick reached Jones at the far post
                                                       and the keeper just managed to claw his effort clear as the
                                                       white shirts prepared to pounce.

                                                       Speed tested Murphy with a well struck shot three minutes
                                                       later as Newcastle started to build up a head of steam, and
                                                       the keeper made a magnificent one-handed save to keep
                                                       out Shearer's 20th-minute shot after great work by
                                                       Gallacher. But the Premiership side blasted their way into
                                                       the lead seven minutes later as Speed rose to meet
                                                       Gallacher's deep cross and send a downward header past
                                                       Murphy and into the back of the net.

                                                       It was 2-0 nine minutes before the break as Domi arrived in
                                                       the penalty area to latch on to another Gallacher cross and
                                                       calmly beat the keeper from close range. But if Newcastle
                                                       had put themselves firmly in charge, they knew to expect a
                                                       backlash, and it duly arrived in the final minute of the
                                                       first-half.
 
                                                       Dave Challinor's throw reached Allison at the far post and
                                                       his header went in off the post to give Tranmere a lifeline.
                                                       Newcastle weathered another early storm after the break,
                                                       but they came within inches of a third goal on 53 minutes
                                                       when Shearer ran on to Gallacher's chested pass and
                                                       smashed a shot against the foot of the post.
 
                                                       But it was 3-1 within five minutes as Dyer used his pace to
                                                       rip apart the Rovers defence, and when he crossed to the
                                                       far post, Ferguson had the simplest of tasks to smash the
                                                       ball past Murphy. The game looked to be over, but Rovers
                                                       battled on and earned their reward 14 minutes from time
                                                       when Allison's shot from a deep free-kick was deflected
                                                       away from Given by Kelly and Jones converted the easiest of
                                                       chances to set up a grandstand finish.

                                                       Dyer should have wrapped it up in the 81st minute when he
                                                       burst clear of Phil Babb, but although his shot beat Murphy,
                                                       it also beat the post. Roberts was stretchered from the pitch
                                                       late on with a broken leg after a challenge with Dyer,
                                                       ensuring an even more tense conclusion to the game as
                                                       injury time mounted up.

                                                       Babb lashed a shot over deep into time added on as Rovers
                                                       fought to the bitter end, but it was the men in black and
                                                       white who were celebrating on the final whistle with Wembley
                                                       beckoning yet again.