GRAEME SOUNESS last night saluted his Newcastle United players for avoiding a humiliating FA Cup third round exit at the hands of Ryman League minnows Yeading.

After Conference side Exeter's amazing goalless draw at Manchester United on Saturday, many people believed the Magpies could be on the wrong end of a shock defeat yesterday.

Newcastle produced a nervy first half display but booked their place in the next round with goals from Lee Bowyer and Shola Ameobi after the break.

And Souness said: "It wasn't a surprise to me how well Yeading played. That's the way cup football goes sometimes. That's what the FA Cup is all about.

"It's always been a great competition and it still is the number one cup competition in the world.

"We haven't given you the shock you all came looking for. The players know everyone was here to see that. But they made sure they didn't add to the results we saw on Saturday."

Yeading, despite being so far down the football ladder, acquitted themselves well and could have gone in front on a couple of occasions.

But Newcastle's fitness and higher standing in the game eventually came through. Souness said: "It was a typical FA Cup tie and they pushed us all the way. They came into the game on a winning run and you could see that had given them confidence.

"The pitch was not the best and that made it difficult. Credit to them for the way they played the game."

After a poor opening half from Newcastle, Titus Bramble was the fall guy as Souness changed things at half-time.

Bramble was booked in the first period and was replaced by Andy O'Brien with the score still goalless.

"I took Titus off so he couldn't get sent off," said Souness. "Their game plan wouldn't have been to play Newcastle in a game of football it would have been to get in there, test our resolve and see how we liked the physical part of it.

"In the first half we didn't handle that side of the game well enough. We didn't win the 50-50 challenges.

"That's the secret of playing in games like that. Sometimes you can react in the wrong way and it would have been different with ten men."

Newcastle striker Craig Bellamy claimed he always knew Yeading were going to give their more illustrious opponents a hard time.

Bellamy should have scored in the first half but could only hit the bar when one on one with the Yeading keeper, and the non-league outfit refused to lie down.

He said: "You have got to remember that for these lads it's a chance of a lifetime. They are going to go for everything they can and you wouldn't expect anything other from them.

"I have worked extremely hard to get where I am and for the Yeading lads this is a massive occasion. The gap between the two didn't mean a thing."

Bellamy shared a few exchanges with his markers, but said: "I certainly gave out the stick but I also took it and you have to just get used to it.

"I like it and I was happy to give my shirt to one of their guys at the end. I've been there, I remember getting Del Piero's shirt.

"We were too eager to get the first goal and our formation played into their hands. We rushed our chances but after the break we were more sensible and made the most of the chances."

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