DARYL Murphy got off the mark in a Newcastle United shirt at St Andrew’s, even though his opening goal was not enough to secure a place in the FA Cup fourth round.

Former Middlesbrough striker Lukas Jutkiewicz was on hand shortly before half-time to level matters and that was how it stayed to force a replay.

Here are the main talking points from the tie:

DARYL’S DELIGHT

He has waited long enough for a second start for the Magpies and the decision to start Murphy up front earned him a goal.

It took him just five minutes to justify his inclusion with a poacher’s goal inside the penalty area, having started the game alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The leg injury suffered during the build up to that goal by Mitrovic meant Murphy didn’t have any more time to see if the M&M partnership would blossom.

The 33-year-old does, though, have his first Newcastle goal in the bag, and a solid enough performance, after finally being handed a chance ahead of Dwight Gayle after moving from Ipswich in the summer.

THE FRINGE FESTIVAL

It was an afternoon which started well for the players given a chance to shine. Achraf Lazaar’s deliveries caused problems, Massadio Haidara did reasonably well, Murphy got his goal and Grant Hanley did little wrong.

Cheik Tiote will be frustrated. He looked hungry to get on the ball and impress. Understandably, though, he was well off the pace, given it was his first start of the season and he had only been used once as a substitute in September.

Tiote is not in Rafa Benitez’s plans and this was not an afternoon that will have changed his mind. The question is will he be given another chance? He will hope so.

MITRO’S DAY OF WOE

While it was a positive day for Murphy, the same could not be said of Mitrovic.

All eyes will now be on what the specialist says after examinations on the the severe cut to the leg which forced the Serbian to be stretchered off minutes after the opener while receiving oxygen.

There is plenty of interest in Mitrovic from clubs this month. If Newcastle were seriously thinking about selling him before the end of the transfer window then the situation could well have changed.

FANS SHOW FA CUP SUPPORT

You could not fault the army of Newcastle fans who made the trip to St Andrew’s. More than 4,600 of them played their part, singing throughout in a bid to drive Newcastle into the fourth round.

It was an all Championship affair so the tie did not attract the sort of attention some of the other FA Cup ties this weekend have received.

And there were plenty of empty blue seats in the home sections of the ground, perhaps highlighting where the game ranked among supporters so soon after Christmas.

Now the Newcastle fans who made the trip have another game to focus on … the replay at St James’ on Wednesday week, as well as the rescheduled trip to Brentford next Saturday.

MANAGERIAL REACTION

Rafa Benitez said: “It was a bad cut. He went to hospital. It was obviously not very good because we had to substitute him straight away. We will see how long (he is out).

“The replay is not ideal. Not for them, not for us, but we have to manage.

Gianfranco Zola said: “We had two very good chances to win the game and I’d have expected a goal in that situation. He worked hard throughout so I am not blaming him (Jutkiewicz) and he is one of the best players in the league in that role.

“Newcastle were really strong, solid, we didn’t allow them to play. Our three midfielders were outstanding to stop them from playing. That was a surprise for them because we deserved to win.”