Michael Johnson more than lived up to his nickname here last night by scoring the goal that knocked Newcastle out of the competition for the second season in succession. The City defender, who is known as "Magic" more for his name than his footballing prowess, conjured up the late winner which his side's almost nonstop attacking deserved.
As extra-time loomed the Jamaican international fired home a loose ball to book Trevor Francis' team a place in the next round, against his former club Sheffield Wednesday.
These teams had met in the competition last season, albeit in the previous round, and City, as now, were among the challengers for promotion. As for the visitors, Ruud Gullit had just resigned as their manager, and, despite the arrival of Bobby Robson, the legacy of the Dutchman's misrule was all too apparent as the hosts completed a 2-0 win.
A year on the former England manager has gone a long way towards repairing the damage at Newcastle, but their improved circumstances did not faze the hosts last night. Buoyed by becoming the only visiting team to win at Spurs this season, City wasted little time in serving notice that they were keen for another upset.
Just two minutes had passed when the Australian winger Stan Lazaridis, seemingly revitalised by his trip to play for his country at the Olympics, outpaced Andrew Griffin on the left and fired in a low cross which Geoff Horsfield hit first time straight at Steve Harper.
Newcastle's first realistic attempt came in the fifth minute following a crunching but illegal challenge by Danny Sonner on Christian Bassedas. Alan Shearer tried his luck from 30 yards but Ian Bennett saved comfortably in the home goal.
Bennett's next touch came in the 17th minute, when he had to retrieve the ball from his net after Kieron Dyer volleyed it past him from the edge of the area. There was an element of fortune about the goal, Warren Barton's hard-hit left-wing cross ricocheting off Darren Purse and into the path of the England midfielder.
Bennett was seldom troubled for the rest of the half, as Francis' team set about restoring equality. And they should have done so before they did, in fact. Horsfield was particularly culpable and then Nicky Eaden wasted a chance when he headed a cross from Lazaridis straight at Harper.
That miss did not prove expensive, however, as from the subsequent corner Dele Adebola headed home Martin Grainger's corner kick.
Francis' team maintained the pressure after the break and had three chances to score in an astonishing five minutes. Lazaridis and Horsfield both had shots blocked before Alain Goma cleared a header from Grainger off the line.
City were fortunate not to lose their goalkeeper in the 55th minute, however, when he brought down Shearer outside the area after being put in danger by a weak back pass. Fortunately for the hosts the referee, perhaps sensing the Newcastle captain had made a meal of it, restricted the punishment to a yellow card.
Birmingham: Bennett, Gill, Purse, M Johnson, Grainger, Eaden, Sonner, O'Connor, Horsfield, Adebola (Burchill 68), Lazaridis (Burrows 90). Subs Not Used: Poole, Hughes, A Johnson. Booked: Purse, Bennett. Goals: Adebola 31, M Johnson 90.
Newcastle: Harper, Barton, Goma, Lee, Dyer, Shearer, Bassedas (Cordone 81), Speed, Griffin, Solano, Hughes. Subs Not Used: Given, Domi, Acuna, S Caldwell. Booked: Speed. Goals: Dyer 14.
Referee: S Bennett (Orpington).
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