Steve Bruce senses FA Cup opportunity at Newcastle United

Bruce's side was held to a 1-1 draw by League One club Rochdale in a third-round tie last weekend, and the winner of next week’s replay will face Oxford United, also in the third tier of English football, in the fourth round of the competition.

Newcastle, 13th in the Premier League, have never got beyond the fourth round since Mike Ashley bought the club in 2007, and Bruce – who pledged to take the cups seriously after taking charge last summer – says it’s “all to play for”.

“I was delighted with the first half, the way we played,” said United’s head coach. “But, to be fair to Rochdale, they made a game of it in the second. We’re still in the hat, it’s an opportunity for us. We’ve got a home tie if we get past Rochdale, so it’s all to play for.”