SIR Bobby Robson bemoaned his side's luck in front of goal last night after seeing his Carling Cup hopes ended by Gary Megson's West Brom.

After five wins on the bounce, the Magpies were aiming to go through October undefeated, before the Baggies proved to have just that little bit more hunger than their more illustrious opponents. But Robson put the defeat down to luck and luck alone - saying his side had none whatsoever.

"We had 30 shots on goal and 23 corners," said the Newcastle manager. "We had the bigger and better chances but didn't take them."

An extra-time goal by Lee Hughes proved to be Newcastle's undoing after Laurent Robert had cancelled out Shola Ameobi's first half own-goal.

Robson started the game with his skipper and talisman Alan Shearer on the bench and, despite the defeat, felt it was the right decision with games against Aston Villa and FC Basel coming up.

"I can't crib about any of our players," said Robson. "Football sometimes kicks you in the teeth and this was one of those nights.

"I am disappointed for players and I am disappointed for the crowd - they were magnificent.

"It wasn't a weakened side, but it has been one of those bizarre nights.

"At 1-1, no-one in this theatre would have bet on anyone but Newcastle winning this."

Newcastle's top performer Robert was replaced by Shearer in extra-time, with Robson explaining the decision was based on the Frenchman's fatigue.

"Laurent was complaining about tiredness at the end of 90 minutes," said Robert.

"We hoped to keep him on until half-time in extra-time but he was too tired."

A delighted West Brom boss Gary Megson saw his side draw Man. United in the fourth round, and hoped for more of the same,

He said: "We want to play teams like Newcastle week in week out.

"The one chance we have to play them is in the Cup. I don't want to decry that we have drawn Man. United but I also don't want to sound like a non-league side."

* Graeme Souness suffered a serious case of deja vu as his old club Liverpool triumphed at Ewood Park for the second time this season to knock Blackburn out of the Carling Cup. The match was almost a carbon copy of the game last month which led to such bitterness between Souness and rival manager Gerard Houllier.

Lucas Neill was sent off in the Barclaycard Premiership game for the challenge which broke Jamie Carragher's leg and he saw red again last night. There was more replication. Blackburn took the lead through a well-crafted goal, Neill was sent off and Liverpool equalised from a penalty before going on to win. There was controversy in this one too.

The draw for the Fourth round of the Carling Cup is as follows: Aston Villa v Crystal Palace Reading v Chelsea Tottenham v Manchester City Southampton v Portsmouth Liverpool v Bolton West Bromich Albion v Manchester Utd Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers Middlesbrough v Everton

l Ties to be played week commencing 1st December 2003.

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