BBC Sport comments from ‘neutrals’ – Interesting on Newcastle United after 3-2 win at Birmingham | OneFootball

Interesting to read through these BBC Sport comments, following on from Newcastle United winning 3-2 at Birmingham.

A victory that takes United into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The comments from neutrals especially telling…

A lot of it different to what Newcastle United fans had come to expect from the BBC Sport ‘neutrals’.

The BBC Sport comments from neutrals in the past had been overwhelmingly a catalogue of abuse aimed at NUFC supporters.

Particularly stuff about the Newcastle United owners and the media-inspired pile-ons that NUFC fans have become used to, when blamed for who now owns their club.

On this occasion the politics (almost…) entirely absent, concentrating on matters on the pitch.

The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals, Birmingham fans and the odd Newcastle United supporter also contributing:

‘Well done Newcastle, football won tonight and not thuggery.’

‘Schaar should have gone and a clear pen for Birmingham was missed. Newcastle were the thugs, backed by a Saudi-funded ref.’

‘Not looking at the ball and smashing a player off the pitch isn’t ruthless, it’s cheating and thuggery. Staggered it wasn’t condemned by the commentators. First half they deserved praise, 2nd half Birmingham resorted to trying to injure everyone. Disgraceful play and more disgraceful is the punditry calling it passion without saying what it really is i.e classless thuggery Result was justice.’

‘Great cup tie, but thought Birmingham were dirty and fortunate to avoid red cards. Overall well done Newcastle.’

‘I wish Joelinton was playing against those thugs tonight.’

‘Football did not win tonight..first Newcastle goal was obviously not a goal.

Too much play acting and throwing themselves into the advertising boards from Newcastle.’

‘Not sure if this is biased drivel or comedy gold. Help me out – are you related to Lenny Henry?’

‘You mean being pushed, pulled and shoulder charged into the advertising boards by thuggish home players.’

‘League 1 footy clearly different to the Premier league, play the man not the ball, how did Birmingham still finish with 11 men on the pitch.’

‘Birmingham were the only team to have a player stretchered off.’

‘Because he threw himself into the tackle recklessly.

The whole Birmingham team was a disgrace in the 2nd half and got what it deserved….nothing.’

‘What a disgraceful dirty team Birmingham are. Glad my team wasn’t playing them, dangerous tackles. And as to their fans moaning at the ref. Clueless.’

‘Beggars belief that they kept 11 on the pitch. Weak from the ref’

‘The referee was a total disgrace. Some red card tackles not even noticed whilst being chopped down manages to get you a yellow card!’

‘Birmingham the dirtiest team I’ve seen since Wimbledon in the 80s.’

‘Completely neutral. Don’t care who won or lost. However, the cloggers got what they deserved. Nowt.’

‘Never had Birmingham down as such a dirty cynical team as they were this evening.

That they’ve lost is justice.

The added bonus being the obvious dissapointment of the BBC match commentators. Well done NUFC.’

‘Glad to get through the game without any serious injures, how Birmingham still had 11 men on the pitch is a mystery could easily have been 2-3 reds.

The amount of sliding two-footed tackles from behind and fouls after the ball was gone was a disgrace.’

‘There’s a great clip going round of Klarer clattering willock into the advertising the ball is 20-30ft away and his eyes were never on the ball always on the player.’

‘So how did a Birmingham player get a serious injury. Newcastle gave as much as they got.’

‘Cos the birmingham player was sliding into the tackle and hurt himself, both players could have been injured.’

‘If that’s how Birmingham play in the league then I hope they come straight down next season. They were lucky not to have a few players sent off. Delighted they are knocked out.’

‘As a neutral that wanted to sit down and hopefully watch an entertaining game of football this was good, enjoyed it.’

‘Sunderland fan here. What a game no VAR. Great to watch. Proper game of football.’

‘Good result vs Thugmingham FC. Reminiscent of the Dirty Leeds teams of the 70s!’

‘Brum players absolutely clattered newcastle off the ball, was almost like they were trying to cause injuries, deliberately shoving players into the hoardings just off the pitch in pouring rain. Reminded me of ice hockey!’

‘Great game. But some cheap and cowardly challenges from Birmingham. Not sure why the ref let them go unpunished’

‘Great answer from Willock to the faceless trolls from last week. Well done lad.’

‘If VAR had been in operation tonight, Birmingham Bouncers would have had a few red cards. What a despicable pub team.’

‘I had the England v France six nations on my second monitor and there was less violent tackles in the rugby than from Birmingham.’

Birmingham 2 Newcastle 3 – Saturday 8 February 2025 5.45pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Willock 21, 82 Wilson 26

Birmingham:

Laird 1, Iwata 40

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Newcastle 63% (63%) Birmingham 37% (37%)

Total shots were Newcastle 16 (7) Birmingham 11 (6)

Shots on target were Newcastle 9 (5) Birmingham 6 (5)

Corners were Newcastle 3 (1) Birmingham 3 (1)

Touches in the box Newcastle 35 (14) Birmingham 19 (11)

Newcastle team v Birmingham:

Pope, Livramento, Krafth, Burn (Schar 55), Targett, Longstaff, Bruno (Tonali 46), Miley, Willock, Osula (Isak 104), Wilson (Murphy 55)

Subs:

Dubravka, Ruddy, Trippier, Hall, Neave

(Birmingham 2 Newcastle 3 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Saturday 15 February – Man City v Newcastle (3pm)

Sunday 23 February – Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 26 February – Liverpool v Newcastle (8.15pm) TNT Sports

Weekend of Saturday 1 March –  FA Cup fifth round (TBC)

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports