The magic and drama of the FA Cup Third Round reach St James' Park today, Saturday, January 10, 2026, as Newcastle United hosts AFC Bournemouth. Kick-off is set for 15:00 GMT.
This is a high-stakes encounter between two Premier League sides coming off the back of incredible midweek spectacles. Eddie Howe faces his former club with both teams riding a wave of momentum following last-minute winners just days ago.
Match Details: Kick-off & Official Info
Competition: FA Cup (Third Round)
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2026
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET
Venue: St James' Park, Newcastle
Referee: Not officially confirmed (Daniel Schlager or John Brooks)
Broadcast: BBC Radio Newcastle (Live), ESPN+ (US), BBC/TNT Sports (UK Highlights)
The Storyline: A Week of "Absolute Cinema"
Newcastle: The Fortress of the North
Newcastle enters this tie on a high after a historic 4–3 comeback win against Leeds United on Wednesday, featuring a 102nd-minute winner from Harvey Barnes. Currently sitting 6th in the Premier League, the Magpies are unbeaten in their last 12 matches at St James' Park. However, Eddie Howe faces a delicate balancing act; with a Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City looming on Tuesday, rotation is expected, yet the pressure to win a first FA Cup since 1955 remains immense.
Bournemouth: Life After Semenyo
The Cherries finally snapped an 11-game winless streak in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, beating Tottenham 3–2 thanks to a 95th-minute strike. However, that was the final act for star man Antoine Semenyo, who completed a blockbuster £65m move to Manchester City yesterday. Manager Andoni Iraola must now find a way to replace his talisman’s output while navigating a squad decimated by injuries, with only 15 fit senior outfield players reportedly available for the trip north.
Team News & Probable Lineups
Newcastle United Team News
Injury Woes: The Magpies’ defensive crisis has deepened as Fabian Schär (ankle) joins Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles, and Emil Krafth on the sidelines.
Rotation: Aaron Ramsdale is expected to start in goal, while Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey could be handed starts to freshen up the attack.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Livramento; Tonali, Ramsey, Willock; Gordon, Wissa, Barnes.
AFC Bournemouth Team News
Big Departure: Antoine Semenyo is officially a Man City player and unavailable.
Injury List: Justin Kluivert (knee) is out long-term. Tyler Adams, Ryan Christie, and Ben Gannon-Doak remain sidelined.
Assessments: Evanilson and Enes Ünal are facing late fitness tests after picking up knocks against Spurs.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Cook; Brooks, Tavernier, Adli; Kroupi.
Head-to-Head (H2H) & Key Stats
Historical Edge: Bournemouth has been a "bogey team" for Newcastle recently, remaining unbeaten in their last six meetings (2W, 4D).
Goals Guaranteed: Newcastle has scored at least two goals in 12 consecutive home games across all competitions.
Defensive Fragility: Bournemouth has conceded 29 away goals in the league this season, the worst record in the top flight.
FA Cup History: This is only the third-ever FA Cup meeting between the sides, with one win apiece previously.
Tactical Analysis: High Press vs. Resilience
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle will look to utilize their superior home intensity to overwhelm a Bournemouth side that might be suffering from "emotional fatigue" after their Spurs victory. The pace of Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon will be the primary weapon against a Bournemouth backline that has conceded in six straight matches.
Andoni Iraola will likely set the Cherries up to be compact, relying on Alex Scott to transition play quickly. Without Semenyo’s individual brilliance, the burden of creativity falls on Marcus Tavernier and the young Eli Junior Kroupi.
Match Prediction
Newcastle’s home form is formidable, and the depth of their squad—even with injuries—is significantly stronger than Bournemouth's at this moment. While the Cherries will fight, the "Fortress St James'" factor should see the Magpies through.
Final Score Prediction: Newcastle United 3–1 Bournemouth
