Potters earn Newcastle replay

A joint goal-line clearance by Steven Taylor and Abdoulaye Faye denied Jon Parkin a certain goal before Shay Given stuck out a hand to keep out Richard Cresswell's point-blank volley.

Although they had been the better side before half-time, even with Michael Owen in their starting line-up, the Magpies failed to create much and Stoke looked the more likely winners by the end.

Allardyce is a bullish character and insisted prior to the game he did not fear the sack if his under-performing team were bundled out of the competition at the first hurdle to lower league opposition.

With Joey Barton missing and Obafemi Martins required to attend an pre-African Nations Cup training camp with Nigeria, Allardyce was shorn of a few key men.

Yet, a quick glance at a team containing Owen, Mark Viduka and Damien Duff offered an obvious explanation as to why so many believe Newcastle should be doing far better than they currently are.

Duff was lively from the start, with Viduka and Owen both warming to their tasks as the opening period progressed. Had it not been for Steve Simonsen's quick reactions, Owen might well have put Newcastle in front after Ryan Shawcross misread Viduka's flick.

Owen swivelled in the area, then tried to lift the ball gently over the advancing Stoke keeper. Fortunately for the hosts, Simonsen stuck out an arm to first stop the ball, before smothering it before Owen had a second bite.

Simonsen also made a smart save to deny Charles N'Zogbia as the visitors tried to make their pressure tell, the winger cutting in from his left flank station before unleashing a powerful low drive that could easily have ended up in the Stoke goal.

Although largely on the back foot, the hosts were a threat on the break and, with a bit less excitability, might have scored themselves.