Keegan era kicks off in style as Newcastle ease past Stoke

They are still in the FA Cup, seeing off the impudent heroes from Stoke who had bravely held Sam Allardyce's side to a draw in the former Newcastle manager's last game in charge 10 days ago. Now for Arsenal.

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Flying start: Owen celebrates his early opener

Newcastle were ahead before Keegan arrived to an ovation with Mike Ashley and Chris Mort, taking his seat — formerly Allardyce's seat — in the directors' box.

By the end, the Ole-football was back and every pass was cheered as Newcastle secured a fine replay win.

And it was Michael Owen, who hardly excelled under Keegan with England, who profited on slack defending to grab his fourth goal of the season and put Newcastle on track for the Emirates Stadium where the Keegan Factor will really be put to the test.

The home side could even survive Emre's dismissal just before half an hour to see off Stoke, although his suspension will leave Keegan short of midfielders for his first game back in charge when Allardyce's former club Bolton visit St James' Park on Saturday evening.

Referee Uriah Rennie failed to control a battle between the Turkish midfielder and Stoke skipper John Eustace and Emre was sent off for a nasty high challenge under Rennie's nose, while Eustace escaped punishment.

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With Keegan's name echoing round the ground, Newcastle scored their second in the 31st minute to put the tie beyond Stoke.

Defender Cacapa, an Allardyce signing who has hardly enjoyed life at the club so far, scored his first Newcastle goal with a deft header from a Charles N'Zogbia corner.

And their tally doubled after the break following Newcastle surviving two minor scares from midfielder Rory Delap who hit the side-netting and screwed a shot across Shay Given's goal.

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Centre of attention: Keegan looked to be enjoying himself back at St James' Park

James Milner tucked Newcastle's third away in the 68th minute, slotting a low shot beyond Stoke keeper Steve Simonsen after he had been given the freedom of St James'.

Then Damien Duff, outstanding all night and the type of attacking player who could thrive under the new manager, scored the fourth from N'Zogbia's clever pass.

The Ireland winger calmly placed his shot past Simonsen for his first goal in 15 months.

Although former Sunderland winger Liam Lawrence did spoil the party a little when he scored a fine late consolation with a neat chip over Given — the game and night could have been different if Lawrence's early speculative shot had fallen to a striker when parried by Given.

Instead it fell to former Manchester United defender Ryan Shawcross who lashed the ball into the side-netting.

Galvanised, Newcastle settled into their task and Owen's cheeky lob, when a loose ball fell to him at the edge of the area, bounced on to the top of the net with Simonsen off his line.

Two minutes later the England striker snapped up another loose ball, this time from close range, making no mistake with his near post finish after Milner had leaped on top of Danny Pugh to put Duff's cross into Owen's path.

Stoke midfielder Eustace protested to Rennie when the official allowed a late challenge from Emre to go unpunished, which resulted in a mini-feud between the pair and Emre's dismissal.

Rennie missed Eustace's nasty revenge tackle on the fiery Turkey international which forced him off the pitch for several minutes.

But Emre's retribution, a late, hard challenge, earned an immediate red card from Rennie.

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Sent off: the Emre lunge that saw red against Stoke

Not that the dismissal affected Newcastle too much. The home side, who survived tame efforts from Lawrence and Shawcross, grabbed a second before the break, to the delight of Keegan and Ashley.

N'Zogbia, again employed in a central midfield role, swung a leftfoot corner into a crowded penalty area and former Lyon skipper Cacapa slipped his marker and glanced his header past Whitley Bay-born Simonsen after losing marker Jon Parkin.

Incredibly, Eustace escaped a booking before half- time, despite another hefty challenge on N'Zogbia, although former Sunderland player Delap was cautioned for a late tackle on the tricky Frenchman.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Given 7; Carr 6, Taylor 7, Cacapa 7 (Rozehnal 71min 6), Jose Enrique 5; Milner 6, Emre 3, N'Zogbia 8 (LuaLua 79), Duff 8; Viduka 6 (Carroll 72 6), Owen 7. Sent off: Emre.

STOKE CITY (4-3-2-1): Simonsen 6; Zakuani 6, Cort 7, Shawcross 7, Pugh 6; Lawrence 7, Eustace 5 (Pulis 78), Delap 5 (Dickinson 78); Parkin 5 (Diao 62 6), Cresswell 6; Fuller 5. Booked: Delap.

Man of the match: Charles N'Zogbia.

Referee: Uriah Rennie.