The pitch had been heavily sanded, and Everton, without the suspended Dacourt, Ball and Dunne, were thankful for the return of Hutchison, after an enforced disciplinary absence. Unlike in recent games, though, Hutchison was to play in midfield, making up an unusual grouping with Barmby, Grant and Unsworth, maintaining his midfield berth following an impressive display against Wimbledon. The extra bite he would give was to be vital if Everton were to make any progress against Ruud Gullit's improving Newcastle.

The team lined up in the 4-4-2 formation which Walter Smith now seems to have settled on, after his early season flirtation with 5-3-2, and consisted of Myhre; O'Kane, Materazzi, Watson, Weir; Barmby, Unsworth, Hutchison, Grant; Cadamarteri, Jeffers. The bench was an adventurous line-up with Simonsen, Short, Oster, Branch and Bakayoko taking places. The biggest surprise for me was the inclusion of the seemingly unfavoured O'Kane in the left back role vacated for the day by Ball.

First Half

Everton kicked off, facing the Gallowgate end. As quickly as they had got the game moving they lost the ball and conceded the initiative to a keen Newcastle side. Early play was scrappy with an effort from Hamman, which blazed over Myhre's bar, the only noteworthy moment for Newcastle, matched for Everton by a move which featured Barmby (who robbed a pedestrian Barton), Jeffers and Cadamarteri, and ended with Jeffers shooting wide across the advancing Given.

The midfield battle was lively with Hutchison finding himself out of favour with referee Barber as early as 11 minutes into the game. A clumsy, late tackle on Shearer saw his name go into the book. Obviously keen not to be outdone in any department, Newcastle soon levelled the bookings count with Barton taking down Barmby, before facing a pencil wielding Mr Barber.

The game switched from end to end, with both sides contributing to an entertaining, if scrappy first half. Everton had probably held the upper hand early on but Newcastle began to take a small measure of control, with Lee twice trying from long range. Neither effort was problematic for Myrhe, but the signs were ominous as Newcastle continued to make space down the left.

Nevertheless, Everton continued to press forward, playing neat football, but they were caught napping after 20 minutes, when Ketsbaia broke forward from the halfway line. The Newcastle forward pushed through the middle of the field and struck a shot from outside the box, which Myhre seemed to have covered. Materazzi, however, went for the interception and succeeded only in deflecting the shot beyond Myhre's grasp. Probably against the overall run of play, but probably in keeping with Newcastle's improving performance, the Magpies were ahead.

The game continued to flow from end to end, with Materazzi playing well at the back and Barmby running tirelessly the length of the field. He prodded and probed throughout and was pivotal in everything that Everton were doing going forward. But still they couldn't break Newcastle down., despite efforts from Unsworth (twice) Jeffers and Hutchison, which in the main, failed to test the keeper. The half-time score of Newcastle United 1 Everton 0 was, on balance, unfortunate, from an Everton point of view.

Second Half

The second half saw a tactical switch from Walter Smith which brought rich reward. Hutchison was switched to a more advanced role, with Cadamarteri moving out wide on the right. O'Kane almost fed Cadamarteri with a neat through ball, but Dabizas made an important interception and Jeffers, following good work down the right, crossed only to see, first Cadamarteri and then Barmby unable to reach the ball. Barmby, however, continued his solid display with some strong running which saw him recover the ball before it reached the by-line and then force a corner from Barton.

The corner, however, came to nothing and for 5 minutes or so the game moved from end to end, without either side gaining any advantage, before Materazzi made a neat tackle at the back and pushed a neat ball forward to Hutchison. Hutchison played the ball forward and seemed to be running into trouble when an advancing Unsworth nicked the ball from his feet and beat two defenders, leaving a clear sight at goal. A terrific left foot drive gave Given no chance as the ball hit the net. 1 -1 and nothing more than Everton deserved.

Maric, the Croatian making his debut for Newcastle, was withdrawn shortly after the goal and was replaced by a Greek, Georgiadis. It was to be a telling substitution, as six minutes after the equaliser, Newcastle were back in front. A challenge by Hutchison on Shearer was penalised by the referee. Some 10 yards outside the Everton box, the resulting kick was hit well by Hamman. Myhre made the save but failed to hold the shot. It dropped at Materazzi's feet and his side-footed clearance only found the substitute in an advanced position. An unfortunate Materazzi was the victim as the Greek's hurried shot cannoned of him and into the unprotected goal. 2 - 1 Newcastle.

The goal was the signal for a change of pace and style from Newcastle. Where they had been pressured and hurried, they now played with control and composure. Stylish passing and good running saw Everton back pedalling. Nevertheless, Materazzi continued to dominate at the back and it looked as though we might be able to cope with whatever Newcastle had to offer. Until the 73rd minute, when Georgiadis was again instrumental in a Newcastle goal, feeding Ketsbaia, who unleashed a fine, early shot which had Myhre well beaten. The game was all but over now.

Just before the third goal Walter had signalled his intent to make a couple of substitutions. Jeffers and Cadamarteri were eventually replaced by Oster and Bakayoko for the restart. The substitutions didn't do much to alter the course of the game, however, with Oster struggling to find the pace of the game and Bakayoko just struggling.

Newcastle continued to press, Georgiadis again involved, this time seeing a long range shot deflected for a corner. The pressure finally brought a fourth goal. The impressive Ketsbaia was through again and going for his hat-trick. Then he stopped, unexpectedly as far as the Everton defence was concerned and laid the ball into the path of the advancing Shearer. The Newcastle captain rifled an unstoppable shot past the despairing Myhre.

Late on a great shot, again by Unsworth, was parried by Given and fell invitingly for Bakayoko, but he failed to take the opportunity offered to him and Given made a second save.

A dejected Everton side left the pitch at the end, on the wrong end of a 4 - 1 scoreline, for the third time this season. The victory was fully deserved by Newcastle but the final score flattered them. The major differences between the two sides were Newcastle's surer first touches and their ability to hit the target from anywhere.

Man of the Match: Three contenders really, Materazzi at the back, Barmby and Unsworth in the middle. I have to give it to Barmby for his shear industry.

Team Performance: A good, spirited effort, until the third goal went in and then heads dropped. Grant was ineffective in the main, trying things that didn't come off and drifting in and out of the game. In the second half this meant that much of the midfield grafting had to be done by Unsworth. With Barmby trying to make things happen up front with Hutchison, this meant that in the end Unsworth was overrun.

When Hutchison dropped back, it was too late, as the situation had been surrendered to the Newcastle midfield. The defence didn't do too much wrong, with three of the four Newcastle goals coming from outside the box. The forwards just couldn't make anything happen – I've heard that story before.

My own view is that we should try Branch and Jeffers for the Blackburn game and give Danny a run from the bench. As for Bakayoko, I think I've now seen enough to believe he just won't cut the mustard.

Due to suspensions Everton were forced to switch things around on the pitch for this match. With the absences of Dacourt, Ball and Dunne from the team Walter changed things around by putting O'Kane in at left back,Unsworth in midfield and Grant on the right wing. Upfront and it read as last week...

Cadamarteri partnering Jeffers. For Newcastle new signing Silvio Maric was given a starting place in midfield and Ketsbaia would be partnering Shearer up-front. First shot of the match fell to Newcastle when Hamman shot from 20 yards narrowly over. This was followed soon after by Everton's first attempt.

Barmby robbed Rob Lee of the ball outside of the Newcastle box, he then played Jeffers through on the Newcastle right were his first time shot skidded across the diving Given and narrowly wide. By now the Everton game plan was clear to see. Long balls would be played over the top of the Newcastle defence for Cadamarteri and Jeffers to run onto, while Hutchison and Unsworth would provide the bite in midfield.

And it was this bite in the first 12 mins that saw Hutchison pick up a yellow card for a late challenge on Shearer, that would see him have to tread carefully for the remainder of the match, not that that trait is in Don's game.It was only a matter of minutes later before he brought Maric down, and was lucky not to be sent off.

Newcastle also picked up cards in this half via Barton for a foul on the ever industrious Barmby and Dabizas was also booked for a foul on Barmby also.

On 20 minutes, it was Newcastle who found the break-through when Ketsbaia rifled in from 20 yards via a wicked deflection off Materazzi and past Myhre who was caught out by the deflection,1-0. During the run-in of the half, there were also chances for Unsworth (wide) and Shearer (over).

The start of the second half signalled a tactical change by Walter Smith. Hutchison was now operating in a more advanced role along with Barmby to support Jeffers, while Cadamarteri was pushed out to the right wing. And the tactics seemed to give Everton fresh impetus as they went forward with vigour as Newcastle struggled to settle.

And a break through came on 57 minutes when David Unsworth levelled from a 20 yard rocket that flew into Given's top left hand corner, 1-1... and Everton looked back in it. However, just before the goal came a significant moment when Maric was taken off and in his place came Georgie Georgiadis; from then on, Newcastle seemed to get back into the game.

It was only some 5 minutes later when Georgiadis made his first contribution when Hutchison brought down Shearer outside the box... breaths were held as it looked like Hutchison might walk, but the ref was right in allowing him to stay. However ,Newcastle now had a free kick in Shearer territory.

But it was Hamman who stepped up and took the free kick and hit it at Myhre's goal, low... Myhre got a hand to it, Materazzi got a leg to the ball in the ensuing scramble pushing the ball only to Georgiadis who slotted it in, again off Materazzi's outstretched leg: 2-1.

Newcastle now started to look more comfortable as Walter Smith sensed a change was needed, Bakayoko and Oster started to get ready to come on as Newcastle went looking for a third... Georgiadis passed to Ketsbaia who fired in early from the Everton right catching Myhre out and into the bottom left of the Everton goal, 3-1.

Before the match re-started Bakayoko and Oster were brought on to replace Jeffers and Cadamarteri... to little effect!

Oster's running at the full backs was non existent and he was guilty of giving the ball away on numerous occasions,while Bakayoko was just... well Bakayoko!

He missed a sitter that you would expect a player costing £4.5M to have no sweat converting,when Unsworth fired a volley that Given fumbled into the path of the unmarked Bakayoko... who when easiest to score shot at Given. Everton by this time were out of the game, and to add insult to injury Shearer also got on the score sheet on the 81 minute mark,through a unstoppable volley on the edge of the box, after Ketsbaia had done well to create.

The final whistle went and despite Everton putting up a spirited performance for three quarters of the match, Newcastle seemed another gear above us when they got in there stride against what is really a young and in-experienced side.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Materazzi was excellent at the back and was unfortunate to fall foul of two strokes of bad luck for the first two Newcastle goals. Again this week, as last Nick Barmby is my man of the match for his tireless running and enthusiasm.

After 15 minutes of serious resistance at the start of the second half, Everton crumbled. It is said on these occasions that the result is all that matters. This Cup-tie epitomised that maxim: a bad, sanded pitch, passed at the referee's inspection at midday, a wet and windy afternoon with the flags on the grandstand roof as stiff as boards, and a match error strewn until Newcastle eventually took command.

In the aftermath of anti-climax, Everton have a torrid sequence of Premiership fixtures awaiting them: Blackburn, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Most of Tyneside's fanatical supporters will not this morning be reflecting on the quality of yesterday's performance, only the four goals which have yet again given this football-crazy city an excuse to celebrate and speculate. The tide of enthusiasm for the game is as unceasing as Pacific surf pounding on to a Hawaiian beach. Yet when the score was 1-1 with an hour gone, none could have predicted such a comfortable victory.

The outcome then turned on a scrambled goal, to restore Newcastle's lead, by George Georgiadis, a bargain buy – £500,000 being these days a bargain – from Panathinaikos last summer. It was at this stage, Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit said afterwards, "that we woke up".

He felt his side became undisciplined following Temuri Ketsbaia's 21st-minute opening goal and it had been obvious to all that Newcastle seemed to think they could coast into the semi-final until David Unsworth's equaliser jolted their false confidence. None was more guilty of this attitude than Alan Shearer.

For that first hour any employer might have wondered why he was paying Shearer astronomic wages. The England centre-forward's touch and positional sense are adrift, and there were moments when he gave the impression that he did not really care.

Moments before the crucial goal, Shearer had walked away from a 50-50 challenge with Marco Materazzi, the big central defender who had doggedly marshalled Newcastle's striker, with that lofty expression of superiority suggesting the presence of a bad smell. The only problem is that Shearer seldom nowadays exhibits superiority.

He was involved in the free-kick that lead to Georgiadis's goal. In another airborne clash with Hutchison, Shearer was illegally spread-eagled on the ground. Though fouled from behind, he clutched his face with both hands, thereby encouraging home supporters to howl for Hutchison's dismissal. In fact, Shearer had suffered no more than a piece of grit in an eye, which made his histrionic gesture particularly unworthy.

From the free-kick, some 28 yards out on the right, Dietmar Hamann, an outstanding figure in midfield, struck a low drive that was parried by Thomas Myhre. The ball screwed from his grasp, and Materazzi, attempting to clear four yards from the goal line, only steered the ball into the path of the lunging Georgiadis. Newcastle were, a shade undeservedly, back on top. Two further goals over-emphasised the degree of their regained control.

Newcastle took a fortunate lead after 21 minutes when Ketsbaia's drive from the edge of the penalty area, when put through by Silvio Maric and Robert Lee, was deflected by Materazzi past Myhre.

Newcastle sat on this advantage somewhat unimpressively and it served them right when Unsworth, formally of West Ham and, briefly, Aston Villa, thumped home a left-foot drive in the 54th minute as the defence retreated invitingly in front of him.

Georgiadis's sneaky, timely goal swung the match back the other way and further resounding shots by Ketsbaia and Shearer in the closing stages brought a sense of glory which may or may not survive through to May.

Everton were left wishing he had been sent home already. The main reason the Toffeemen came unstuck on a cloying St James' Park pitch was the strikingly different forward with the strikingly polished pate.

He scored twice and set up an Alan Shearer goal as Newcastle moved within one match of returning to the twin domes of Wembley for the FA Cup final. They did so under the guidance of Ruud Gullit, who lifted the old tin pot with Chelsea two years ago, but, ironically, with the vital assistance of two bargain buys he inherited from the manager who presided over Newcastle's Cup final embarrassment against Arsenal last May.

Kenny Dalglish could have been excused a wry smile in the television commentary box as he watched Ketsbaia and George Georgiadis, who scored Newcastle's crucial second goal, steer his old club into the semi-finals. He brought the former to St James' Park on a free-transfer from AEK Athens and the latter from Panathinaikos for £450,000. It was his successor, though, who wore the broadest smile afterwards. "We are going in the right direction," Gullit said. "The players are responding well to what we want to do here. I think sometimes they don't believe how good they can play."

Everton have not won at St James' since Boxing Day 1986, en route to their second championship under Howard Kendall. They still had Dave Watson at the heart of their defence yesterday but they were found short of trophy-winning quality in the final half-an hour.

That they were short of luck, too, was evident from the 10th minute, when Francis Jeffers shot across the face of the home goal after Nick Barmby found the teenager unmarked on the left angle of the Newcastle penalty area. Fortune did not favour them in the 20th minute, either.

The right-foot shot Ketsbaia delivered from 20 yards would have been tipped wide by Thomas Myhre had it not taken a deflection off Marco Materazzi on its way towards the Leazes End goal. The build-up, however, was worthy of reward, Shearer having flicked Silvio Maric's ball from the left invitingly into the path of his striking partner.

It was a different story after the break. With Don Hutchison pushed forward and Barmby scheming impishly, Everton took control for quarter-of-an-hour.

They drew level in the 57th minute, David Unsworth unleashing an unstoppable left-foot shot from the fringe of the Newcastle penalty area. The tide, however, turned decisively against them five minutes later.

Hutchison left Shearer in a heap 25 yards from goal and Myhre was unable to hold on to the low free-kick Dietmar Hamann swept into the goalmouth. Materazzi tried to hack the loose ball clear but Georgiadis, a 54th-minute substitute for the debutant Maric, returned it with interest, his low shot rubbing salt into the Italian defender's wounds as it took a deflection off him on its way into the net.

Georgiadis, 27 today, was celebrating again after 73 minutes. It was his rolled pass from the left that led to Ketsbaia's second goal, though it was no formality for the Georgian, who jinked inside his marker before beating Myhre with a sweetly-struck left foot drive.

It gave Newcastle the luxury of a two-goal cushion but they ventured further into the comfort zone before the final whistle. After the Georgian and Georgiadis, it was left to a Geordie to have the final say on the score-sheet nine minutes from time.

It was a superbly crafted goal that spoke volumes for the fluent football Gullit has slowly teased from his team in his six months on Tyneside. Hamann launched the move with a fine ball to Shearer, who finished it with a blasting right-foot shot - after exchanging passes with Ketsbaia, who had to elude three defenders to keep the attack in motion.

The hope on Tyneside today is that Newcastle can somehow keep the Georgian Geordie.

By straining to reach a speculative effort from Temuri Ketsbaia, Marco Materazzi unwittingly initiated Newcastle United's first goal, diverting the course of the ball with significant effect. By felling Alan Shearer on the fringes of the penalty area, Don Hutchison provoked a second. Two-one down and with Ruud Gullit's stilted revival escalating, Everton retreated to familiar, sapping territory.

While there was much more to come, Hutchison's intervention definitively altered the course of the game. Where, for gaping intervals at the beginning of each half, Everton had dictated its pace and shape, the impetus was now lost. Three Newcastle goals in the space of 20 minutes spoke of a dominance that they only latterly earned.

Suddenly, they are beginning to resemble a team. In Shay Given, Steve Howey, Dietmar Hamann and Shearer, Newcastle possess a backbone finally delivering the weight that it promises. The disharmony evident in the days around Christmas has been dispelled by positive results and now, where before they seemed flimsy and unimportant, their squad players are capable of injecting vigour.

The redoubtable Ketsbaia, the former Georgia international, whose future on Tyneside is far from certain, was their hero yesterday. If he remains in the team until the end of the season, he will still fall some way short of figuring in 75 per cent of Newcastle's matches – the minimum required for the renewal of his work permit – and yet he played with a fierce, indelible hunger.

"I would like him to stay, of course," Gullit, the Newcastle manager, said, "but there is good competition for places now and Ketsbaia, because of the new regime, is showing his best form." His first goal may have been blessed with a healthy slice of good fortune, but the same could not be said for either his second or Newcastle's fourth, which he created for his side's official new captain, Shearer.

Walter Smith, an empty, haunted figure afterwards, insisted that Newcastle were flattered by the scoreline and, in a sense, the Everton manager was right. For the first 15 minutes of both halves, Everton were worthy combatants, but they crumbled badly.

As the rain teemed down from a sky as leaden as the stretch of muck that barely passed muster as a pitch – two inspections eventually permitting the tie to proceed – Everton's players, showered and changed, trudged along the fringes of St James' Park to their coach. It was a poignant end to a vibrant afternoon, coming in stark comparison to the first little teaser which arrived with the team-sheets.

Since signing from Croatia Zagreb last month, the introduction of Silvio Maric to English football has waited on the vagaries of a work permit, international clearance and the postponement of a reserve team match, although, after a trip to the races, a paint-balling excursion and the grand tour of Tyneside's finest fashion houses, his acclimatisation was already fairly complete.

All that remained was to exchange the black and white shirt that Maric had been sporting while awaiting the completion of his £3.65M transfer for the real thing and, perhaps a touch surprisingly, that happened yesterday. The surface was too treacherous, Gullit had said, a lack of match fitness palpable, yet there he was jogging on to the field, taking his place on the left side of midfield.

Though Hamann had been the first to threaten with a speculative 20-yard punt that dipped markedly above the crossbar, Newcastle were sluggish in leaving the blocks. There were some pretty touches in the central portion of the field, particularly from Maric, but, for long periods, the swirling, miserable conditions clearly favoured Everton's pragmatic tendencies.

The first goal by Ketsbaia altered that, draining Everton of control and self-confidence until the whistle for half-time cleared the distraction. From a flurry of quick passes involving Maric and Shearer, Ketsbaia emerged with the ball on the fringes of the penalty area. At that stage, a shot had appeared to be the least obvious option, but the frame of Materazzi, hurled towards the danger, shaped glory from ignominy.

It stopped the game in its tracks. Half-time brought a renewal of efforts and, from Everton, an influential tactical change. Don Hutchison, back from suspension, was pushed forward alongside Cadamarteri and Jeffers and the complexion changed. Hutchison nicked the ball from Steve Howey, flicked it forward and, from a considerable distance, David Unsworth left Shay Given sprawling. Within another five minutes, Newcastle were ahead once more.

From Hutchison's rudimentary foul, Thomas Myhre, the goalkeeper, could only parry Hamann's shot into the path of Materazzi. The Italian centre half could do little other than watch the ball spin from his leg as George Georgiadis, a substitute, turned it home.

In the 72nd minute, Georgiadis found Ketsbaia with a square pass along the perimeter of the area. He stepped outside Unsworth and shot beyond Myhre and, eight minutes from time, Shearer converted a move he had begun. A combination of one-touch passes culminated with a low, firm shot that struck right at the heart of Everton's season.

Arsenal                  1 - 0  Derby County          38,000
Kanu 89
Barnsley                  -v-   Tottenham Hotspur   Postponed 

Manchester United        0 - 0  Chelsea               54,587

Newcastle United         4 - 1  Everton               36,584
Ketsbaia 21,73, Georgiadis 62,   Unsworth 57
Shearer 82

Chelsea                  0 - 2  Manchester United     33,075  
                                Yorke 4,59

Barnsley                 0 - 1  Tottenham Hotspur     18,793 
                                Ginola 68