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Chris Davies: Birmingham City have earned right to face Newcastle in FA Cup fourth round

Birmingham City will have to strike a fine balance when they host Premier League side Newcastle United in the FA Cup fourth round head coach Chris Davies has said

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League One leaders Blues meet Carabao Cup finalists Newcastle on Saturday (17:45 GMT), having had to enter the FA Cup in round one for the first time since 1994.

“We’ve had to earn the right to get here as we started earlier in the competition and for us they were hard yards we had to take,” Davies told BBC Radio WM.

“I was hoping we’d get a game like this against a big club and if it was to be at home – even better. We got it so we’re really looking forward to it.”

Birmingham have already beaten Sutton United, Blackpool and Lincoln City to get this far, while they are also through to the semi-finals of the Vertu Trophy.

Newcastle are sixth in the Premier League.

“They’ve got a top manager [Eddie Howe], the best English manager out there at the moment and it’s going to be a real test for us but something I can tell everyone is excited about,” added Davies.

Fulham’s win in the Carabao Cup in August is the only time Blues have lost at home this season, but Davies accepts this is their biggest challenge so far.

“Newcastle are a really powerful beast, very high energy in pressing and physical and it’s going to be another test for us,” he said.

“We have to get the fine balance right between being ourselves and keeping all the things that we do and know, and adapting to the level of the opposition, so it’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to.”

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