By Matthew Jones
January 9 2005

Reaction from Newcastle boss Graeme Souness and Yeading Boss Johnson Hippolyte following today's FA Cup 3rd Round tie at Loftus Road. The Non-League outfit put up a brave battle, but the Magpies' came out 2-0 winners, following a tough first half which ended 0-0. TOON BOSS GRAEME SOUNESS: "In the first half we weren't competing enough and I took Bramble off in case he got sent off.

"If we had gone down to 10 men it would have been very tight.

"Their game plan was to get in there among us and test our resolve and in the first half we were losing too many 50-50s. But in the second half we went up a gear. I expected us to be like that from the first minute.

"They pushed us all the way but we were guilty of missing some great chances. We scored two but we could have had another four or five. Until the second goal went in it was game on."

YEADING BOSS JOHNSON HIPPOLYTE: "Apart from my kids being born, that was the second-proudest day of my life.

"A lot of those players have had disappointments earlier in their careers, at pro clubs and that sort of thing.

"But I thought they had the character and I knew they had the technical ability and I think they showed that to everybody watching today.

"Us not being full time was always going to be an issue but I thought the boys did ever so well.

"Good luck to all of them, they made me proud."