Newcastle United 3-1 Luton Town
- Published
FA Cup: Newcastle 3-1 Luton highlights
Newcastle struck three goals in a nine-minute spell as they saw off a spirited display from League Two leaders Luton in the FA Cup third round.
Ayoze Perez pounced on Marek Stech's error for the opener and added a second after Stech had produced a smart save.
Jonjo Shelvey extended the lead, side-footing in his first goal since April, but Danny Hylton steered in after half-time, prompting more Luton pressure.
Hylton had a second goal ruled out and Elliot Lee also rattled the woodwork.
Lee came off the bench to join his brother Olly in the Luton side as both men tried to peg back the Magpies, for whom their father Rob played for a decade from 1992.
Luton's energy in the second period thrilled a 7,400-strong away support, who thought they were back in the game when Hylton celebrated wildly after finding the net a second time, only for the assistant referee's flag to deny him.
Nathan Jones' side - who have only been outscored by Manchester City in England's top five leagues this season - will rue their first-half capitulation but showed a spirit befitting a side who lead the League Two table by four points.
Nine minutes of madness
Jonjo Shelvey scored Newcastle's third goal
Jones can now focus on returning Luton to their highest level since 2008 with their push for promotion.
It was perhaps a mark of respect that Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez kept three of his back four in place from Monday's win over Stoke and made just four changes in all after a hectic festive campaign.
Jones' team arrived in the north-east with just one defeat in 14 matches - winning 11 during that run - but Stech's fumble of Gayle's free-kick on 30 minutes gifted the opener and prompted a loss of focus.
Newcastle's midfielders suddenly had more time on the ball, Perez tapped in the second after a fine Stech save denied Dwight Gayle, and Shelvey rolled home to cap a flowing move.
Newcastle legend Alan Shearer used to play with Rob Lee, father of Luton brothers Elliot and Olly
Luton's brief meltdown proved costly but Newcastle ruthlessly seized their chance. Their own intensity then dropped after the break when the away side dug in to make a fight of a tie which, at one point, looked like it could have turned into a rout.
Had Hylton's finish or Lee's strike against the bar given the Hatters a second goal, they could have capitalised on their momentum. But they have now conceded nine goals in three matches and paid the price for a brief lack of resistance on the big stage.
Toon find the scoring touch
Perez scored the opener from close range
Newcastle - six-time winners of the competition - have now registered back-to-back wins for the first time since September and have three victories in six games.
It would appear they have put the nine-game winless run, which hampered them during November and early December, behind them.
But for a side who have struggled for goals this season, the sight of Perez doubling his tally for the campaign will provide confidence. And they could have scored more, notably through Gayle, who was denied by a fine Stech save later on.
The Magpies have only progressed past round four once in the past 10 seasons but judging from his team selection, Benitez looks intent on mounting a push for a first major trophy since 1955.
By his own admission Benitez is "working hard" to add new faces in the January transfer window.
He will be pleased there is no serious damage to captain Jamaal Lascelles - who left the field with an injury as a precaution after the opening goal.
And the Spaniard will likely be content with the fact his side could ease their intensity after the break as they get ready for a crucial fixture against relegation-rivals Swansea next weekend.
'We had a good go' - managers' reaction
Nathan Jones (right) has guided Luton to top spot in League Two
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez: "I said in the news conference we wanted to approach the game with a strong team to make sure we were going through.
"First half we finished really well. We were 3-0 up, maybe it's harder to keep concentration in the second half.
"In the second half we needed more experience to manage these games. Keep the ball and then a fourth goal would have finished it, but we couldn't do it."
Luton Town manager Nathan Jones: "At times we were excellent in the second half, we looked an attacking threat.
"We gave a wonderful account of ourselves. We had a right go at a Premier League side. We haven't tried to nick a result, we had a good go.
"Maybe that's naive but we played some great football today and the fans were outstanding."