Premier League Newcastle United beat third-tier Oxford in the FA Cup fourth round thanks to Allan Saint-Maximin’s stunning winner at the Kassam Stadium.
Oxford United defender Rob Dickie was left to rue a ‘moment of brilliance’ from Allan Saint-Maximin after the Newcastle United star’s stunning winner in Tuesday’s dramatic FA Cup replay, speaking to the Oxford Mail.
It was a game of great goals at the Kassam Stadium but The Magpies’ £16 million summer signing saved the best till last.
After a plucky Oxford had fought back from 2-0 down to force extra time, their hearts and hopes were broken in the 116th minute as Saint-Maximin cut inside from the right and launched a rocket of a shot into the top corner for Simon Eastwood’s net.
The fleet-footed Frenchman remains infuriatingly erratic but, on his day, he has the talent and skill to turn a game on it’s head in the blinking of an eye – something Dickie knows all about now.
“To go all the way to extra time and not come away with a win is really disappointing. We’re proud, but to be honest we felt like they were there for the taking at one point,” he said.
“It’s come down to a moment of brilliance and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up.”
Although Newcastle almost threw away the win thanks to stunning strikes from Liam Kelly and Nathan Holland in the final few minutes of normal time, it was still a night full of positives as Steve Bruce’s side reached the fifth round for the first time in the Mike Ashley era.
Joelinton netted his only his third goal for the club, albeit before limping off with an injury, while the likes of Fabian Schar, Matt Ritchie and Saint-Maximin himself emerged unscathed after recent spells on the sidelines.
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