IT might be the greatest cup competition in the world, but the FA Cup is also the least forgiving. Reputations count for little once the big boys are asked to take on lower-league opposition and, throughout its history, the tournament has shown little respect for reputation.

It would be a surprise if there was not at least one significant shock this afternoon. Given the form of the North-East's three biggest sides, it would be an even bigger surprise if one of Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland were not involved in it.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness will be approaching the trip to Cheltenham with a mixture of foreboding and dread.

The Magpies barely squeezed past League Two opponents Mansfield in the last round, and that game was at St James' Park. With 7,000 fans packed to the rafters, Whaddon Road will seem like a bear-pit to a manager who is just one defeat from the sack.

Monday's meeting with Freddy Shepherd proved inconclusive but, while the Newcastle chairman is reluctant to shell out the £5m it would take to remove Souness and his backroom staff, a cup exit this afternoon would surely force his hand.

With Scott Parker, Shola Ameobi and Emre back in the squad, the visitors should have too much class for a Cheltenham side who lost to Colchester on Tuesday night.

Newcastle have failed to score in four of their last five league games, though, and, while Alan Shearer remains just one goal away from breaking Jackie Milburn's all-time record, the Robins will hope to pile further misery on the misfiring Magpies.

Cheltenham is famous for its horse-racing - Souness cannot afford to see his side's FA Cup hopes fall at the second hurdle.

Boro boss Steve McClaren is under similar pressure as he takes his strugglers to Coventry.

McClaren sought to draw a line under an intriguing week by signing his new four-year contract in public yesterday. If he loses this afternoon, chairman Steve Gibson could be forgiven for tearing it up.

Boro know all about the pitfalls that could lie in wait after struggling to dispose of Nationwide Conference North outfit Nuneaton in the third round.

Too many players did not fancy the battle at the Manor Park ground and Championship opponents Coventry will be ready to take advantage if they are similarly disinterested again.

Micky Adams' side put six past Derby in their last outing and, in Stern John and Dele Adebola, they possess a strikeforce capable of exploiting any lingering hesitancy in the Boro backline.

For once, it is Sunderland that enter this weekend's games on a high. The Black Cats recorded only their second league win of the season last weekend and welcome back striker Kevin Kyle after 18 months out of the game.

Opponents, Brentford, are riding high in League One and, in Martin Allen, possess a manager even more eccentric than Mick McCarthy.

The former Republic of Ireland boss has struggled to keep his head above water in recent weeks as Sunderland have crashed to the foot of the Premiership table.

Allen doesn't even bother to do that, having swum across the Thames to convince his players they were capable of winning a previous cup tie.

More tall tales will be played out this weekend. The North-East's hopefuls can only hope they are not cast as the fall.