KING KEV blew a kiss to the fans on his return to St James' Park last night, but his home-coming did not go as planned as his Manchester City side were knocked out of the FA Cup by Newcastle.

Following the match, the quarter final draw paired the Magpies at home to Cup favourites Arsenal. Middlesbrough, who won on Saturday, were also drawn at home, against the winners of the Crewe-Everton replay.

It was the first time that Keegan had been back for a competitive match at the ground, where he was once hailed as "the Messiah", since he quit as Newcastle manager in January 1997.

The 51,020 crowd at St James' - the largest to witness an FA Cup tie anywhere in the country this season - gave a hero's welcome to the man who took them to within touching distance of the Premiership crown in 1996. Keegan was clearly touched by the emotion of the occasion.

But that was about as good as it got for the former England manager.

Manchester City fought valiantly, but they were a man down after 29 minutes when Richard Dunne was sent off, and a goal down after 59 minutes when Newcastle's Nolberto Solano scored the winner.

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