All-out attack proves the way to go

English FA Cup/ Newcastle Utd 4 Stoke City 1: Tony Pulis turned 50 yesterday, but the Stoke City manager was left with precious little to smile about.

He could only watch as his side's 12-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end, and his birthday celebrations were overshadowed by the daddy of all gate-crashers, one who will no doubt ensure this part of the world is nursing a collective party-induced headache for some time.

If his mere presence in the directors' box helped to secure a first victory in seven games, imagine the galvanising effect Kevin Keegan can have when he makes it back to the dressingroom.

This was Newcastle's most handsome victory of the season, which after two first-half goals was rounded-off by second-half efforts from James Milner with a confident angled drive from the edge of the area after 69 minutes, and another seven minutes later by Damien Duff, who easily slotted home the fourth as Newcastle ruthlessly exploited a three-on-one situation against tiring opponents who failed to exploit Emre's early sending off until Liam Lawrence curled home a 89th minute consolation.

The home side were without more than half of a first-choice side for the usual Newcastle reasons of suspension, Africa Cup of Nations call-ups and court appearances. Nigel Pearson, in his second and final game as caretaker manager, sent out an almost Keegan-esque starting line-up, certainly in terms of a front six which clearly had little defensive intent.

The ploy worked as Newcastle took an eighth-minute lead, but not before Stoke had twice gone close. Ryan Shawcross fired into the side-netting when Shay Given could only beat out a low Lawrence shot before the goalkeeper bravely saved Ricardo Fuller's shot.

Newcastle broke the deadlock against the run of play. Duff swung in a deep cross from the left, and when James Milner rose highest at the far post to provide an inviting knock-back, Owen was at his predatory best to poke home his first goal in three months from two yards out.

A moment of utter stupidity from Emre just before the half-hour looked like it might give Stoke a way back into the contest. The midfielder, governed by nothing more than the thickest of red mist shortly after being on the wrong end of a late Eustace challenge, was sent off for an ugly attempt to smash his studs into the Stoke captain's shin.

Newcastle doubled their lead on 31 minutes. City switched off at a Charles N'Zogbia corner to allow defender Claudio Cacapa a free header from eight yards.

• Guardian Service

NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Carr, Taylor, Cacapa (Rozehnal 71), Jose Enrique, Milner, Emre, N'Zogbia (LuaLua 79), Duff, Viduka (Carroll 72), Owen. Subs not used: Harper, Edgar. Sent off: Emre (29).

STOKE CITY: Simonsen, Zakuani, Shawcross, Cort, Delap (Dickinson 78), Lawrence, Eustace (Pulis 78), Pugh, Fuller, Cresswell, Parkin (Diao 62). Subs not used: Hoult, Pericard. Booked: Delap.

Referee: Uriah Rennie(S Yorkshire).