GRAEME Souness is not the only Newcastle manager to take his side to the semi-finals of the FA Cup when they have been struggling in the wrong half of the league.

But, if yesterday's heart-stopping 1-0 win over Spurs is anything to go by, he could turn out to be the first to walk away with the trophy.

Kenny Dalglish, Ruud Gullit and Sir Bobby Robson all took the Magpies to the last four of the competition and, while the first two at least made it to the final, all three saw their hopes of success disappear down Wembley Way.

Souness will not be losing in London and, despite the presence of Manchester United and Arsenal in this afternoon's draw, Newcastle will travel to Cardiff full of confidence next month for a last-four showdown.

After all, there cannot be many sides who have enjoyed as many lucky breaks as the Magpies in their last two FA Cup games.

After squeezing past a Chelsea side who were forced to play for almost 45 minutes with just ten men, Newcastle were on the right end of three crucial decisions yesterday as they saw off a spirited second-half showing from Spurs to book their place in the last four.

Patrick Kluivert's fifth-minute winner ultimately proved decisive but, just as significant, was referee Rob Styles' decision to wave away two vociferous late penalty appeals and disallow a possible Robbie Keane equaliser after Anthony Gardner had done little more than out-jump Shola Ameobi.

Souness has repeatedly stressed that it is "better to be a lucky manager than a talented, but unsuccessful, one" and, after benefiting from a number of debatable decisions in Greece last week, the Magpies manager's luck certainly appears to be in.

Lee Bowyer twice appeared to handle as Newcastle's defending became increasingly fraught following the loss of hernia victim Titus Bramble but, despite finishing the game with a 2-3-5 formation, Tottenham were left to reflect that, with St Patrick's Day looming, their visitors were enjoying the luck of the Irish.

They were also profiting from the goalkeeper of the Irish and, in Shay Given, Newcastle had a player able to produce a world-class double save when his side needed it most.

With Tottenham enjoying their best spell of the game midway through the second half, substitute Robbie Keane looked a certain scorer as he latched onto Fredi Kanoute's pull-back from the byline.

The Spurs striker could only watch on in amazement as his compatriot parried his first-time strike, but that was only the aperitif as Given then produced an even more impressive parry after Jermain Defoe volleyed the rebound back towards goal.

There is something about the FA Cup and memorable double saves and, just as Jimmy Montgomery's heroics will forever be remembered in Sunderland, so Given's acrobatics will be etched in Newcastle folklore if the Magpies go on to lift the trophy.

The goalkeeper's timely intervention ensured Kluivert's early strike would be good enough to earn United's five successive home win by the margin of just one goal.

Kieron Dyer gained possession on the right-hand touchline but, after he was tackled by Michael Carrick, the ball broke kindly into Alan Shearer's stride.

Showing a turn of foot that belied his 34 years, the United skipper duly evaded the lunging challenge of England international Ledley King before advancing towards the dead-ball line.

Other strikers might have been tempted to try their luck at Paul Robinson's near post but, showing all of his experience, Shearer deftly laid the ball into Kluivert's path and the Dutch international produced a clinical first-time finish from eight yards.

With Dyer running Thimothee Atouba ragged down the right flank, and Lee Bowyer linking well with his forward line, Newcastle initially looked destined for a comfortable afternoon.

It didn't turn out that way, partly because of Carrick and Michael Brown's increased influence at the heart of midfield, but primarily thanks to a defensive injury crisis that left Jermaine Jenas filling in at left-back for more than 45 minutes.

With Andy O'Brien having failed a fitness test on his injured back, and Steven Taylor having suffered a training ground knock on Saturday, Souness was always taking a calculated risk by playing Bramble despite the centre-half's long-standing hernia complaint.

That risk was exposed when Bramble, who had been the game's most disciplined defender for most of the first half, over-stretched when unsuccessfully trying to cut out a Defoe cross that Kanoute poked wide at the front post.

It is difficult to see what else Souness could have done - untried teenager Peter Ramage was the only other defender available to him - but, after Bramble was finally forced off in the 40th minute, United found themselves playing the second half with just three recognised defenders.

Jenas did his best as a fill-in full-back but, with Kanoute inevitably drifting to the right flank in an attempt to exploit his presence, Newcastle found themselves dropping deeper and deeper in an attempt to preserve their lead.

Simon Davies served notice of what was to come seven minutes after half-time, dragging a half-volley wide after Aaron Hughes had failed to clear his lines, and, for most of the second half, the home side found themselves under the cosh as Spurs threw caution to the wind.

Given's double save kept them in front going into the final 20 minutes and, with Kluivert also limping off with a knee problem, Newcastle's sole priority became defending their lead.

They did so, but only after Styles came to their rescue on three separate occasions during a fraught finale.

The referee waved away two separate appeals for a penalty against Bowyer and, while the first looked about right after the midfielder fell on the ball while attempting a diving header, the second should have been given when he blocked Davies' strike with his hand.

He also ruled out a goal, adjudging that Gardner had leant on Ameobi unfairly in the run-up to Keane prodding home from close range.

It was the final stroke of luck on a day that suggests that some things are simply meant to be. If this is to be Newcastle's year - and plenty of signs are pointing that way - expect the name of Blackburn to loom large later today.

Result: Newcastle United 1, Tottenham Hotspur 0.

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