'It wouldn't be Newcastle without drama': Steve Bruce confident FA Cup run can help survival bid

Magpies survive late West Brom fightback while Billy Sharp's extra-time winner against Reading secures Sheffield United a quarter-final spot

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Steve Bruce says Newcastle United's FA Cup run can help in their bid to stave off Premier League relegation.

Miguel Almiron's double and a Valentino Lazaro effort secured a 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday despite two late goals and sent the Magpies into the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006.

Newcastle are 14th in the league, five points above the relegation zone, and believes a prolonged run in the FA Cup can boos their survival bid.

"The Premier League is the most important thing for all of us, make no doubt about that, but it can only help. We've had a difficult time," Bruce said.

"The Premier League is very difficult. We've got a decent platform. I know we're capable of getting the points we need.

"It's a great competition [the FA Cup], when you get this far you try to get to where you want to try to get to.

"I experienced it at Hull [reaching the final in 2014] and ask the supporters at Hull, the day out at Wembley is the one they enjoyed. We're a step closer, let's see who we get."

Albion looked beaten but Matt Phillips pulled a goal back after 74 minutes and Kenneth Zohore made Newcastle nervous when he turned in at the near post in injury time.

"I've only been at the club seven months and it wouldn't be Newcastle without drama," added Bruce.

"We made a bit of hard work of it but for a large period of time I was delighted with the way we played. It's a shame the last 10 minutes has spoiled it for us."

Premier League rivals Sheffield United booked their place in the last eight with a 2-1 win over Championship club Reading.

Manager Chris Wilder praised "brilliant" Billy Sharp after his extra-time winner as the Blades squeezed at the Madejski Stadium.

David McGoldrick had put the Blades into the lead early in the match but his header was cancelled out when George Puscas converted a spot-kick just before the half-time break.

Sharp had only scored two goals previously this season, compared to 24 last term, but his header was enough to see the Blades through to the next round, their first quarter-final since 2014.

"He's been brilliant on and off the pitch," Wilder said of Sharp.

"He's not played a lot of football leading up to Christmas but he's kept himself in great shape and he's always had a part to play.

"He epitomises what we're about, selfless, when he plays there's still life in him - who's to say that he's not got a little bit more left in the tank?

"He's a natural finisher, it's a brilliant goal from our point of view."