10 Times Newcastle United Totally Bottled It In The Big Game

9. Manchester United 4-1 NUFC

Competition: FA Cup semi final Season: 2004/05 Arguably the worst of Newcastle's collection of FA Cup surrenders and new low for Graeme Souness just days after we crashed out out the UEFA Cup at the quarter final stage in Lisbon. Somehow we'd managed to fight our way to the last four despite our awful Premier League form and approached the semi-final with cautious optimism knowing the quality of the opposition. Predictions of a tight affair proved unfounded as we pretty much gifted Manchester United a place in the FA Cup final as our season dramatically caved in. Nicky Butt was appalling and couldn't bring himself to put in a tackle on his former team-mates while most of his passes suspiciously landed at the feet of a red shirt. We'd loathe to accuse Butt of espionage but it was cloak-and-dagger stuff from the former Red Devils midfielder. His pally handshakes and giggles with Sir Alex Ferguson after the match didn't go unnoticed by the 35,000 Geordie supporters present at the Millennium Stadium. At least Shola scored! A saving grace if there ever was one.