Joe Willock scored two goals – including one controversial strike – as Newcastle United reached the FA Cup fifth round with a thrilling 3-2 win over League One leaders Birmingham City.

The EFL Cup finalists came out on the right side of a classic cup tie at St Andrew's, though they had to do things the hard way.

Just 43 seconds had passed when Birmingham took the lead. Keshi Anderson kept a corner alive at the back post, and Ethan Laird's volley took a massive deflection off Callum Wilson, before finding the roof of the net.

Nick Pope made a fine save to thwart Jay Stansfield, then Newcastle levelled in bizarre circumstances in the 21st minute.

Willock turned William Osula's cross goalwards, only for Bailey Peacock-Farrell to claw it away from the goal line. Willock then smashed the rebound over, only for the linesman to signal his first effort had crossed the line.

With goal-line technology not in use until the fifth round of the competition, the goal stood despite replays being unclear.

Five minutes later, Newcastle were ahead via another scrappy goal, Wilson prodding in after Osula blocked his own close-range effort with his standing leg. 

But Birmingham restored parity five minutes before half-time, Tomoki Iwata rifling a wonderful strike into the top-right corner from the edge of the box.

There was less goalmouth action in a second half that occasionally threatened to boil over, until Willock struck the decisive goal eight minutes from time.

Sean Longstaff's cutback was charged down, but it deflected kindly into the path of Willock on the right side of the box, and he made no mistake with his finish.

Data Debrief: Newcastle continue cup success

Just three days on from their EFL Cup semi-final triumph over Arsenal, Eddie Howe's Magpies came through a big scare to put their name in the hat for the fifth-round draw.

Having reached the quarter-finals last season, Newcastle have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in back-to-back seasons for the first time since doing so in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Meanwhile, Birmingham bow out after seeing their 18-match unbeaten streak across all competitions end, while they have now failed to win any of their last 11 FA Cup games against Premier League opposition.