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Rafael Benitez 'sorry' for Newcastle fans after FA Cup exit at Oxford

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez gestures on the touchline during the Sky Bet Championship match at Griffin Park, Brentford.
Image: Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez was sorry for the fans who made the journey down to see their 3-0 loss at Oxford

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez admits he feels sorry for the fans who made the journey down to see their side lost 3-0 at Oxford in the FA Cup fourth round.

Kane Hemmings put the hosts in front early in the second half before Magpies striker Aleksandar Mitrovic saw his penalty saved by man of the match Simon Eastwood.

Curtis Nelson and Toni Martinez made sure of the result with further goals for the hosts.

Benitez made nine changes in total, which he indicated afterwards was to protect his club's promotion push.

"We didn't take our chances in the first half, then we missed a penalty," said the Spaniard, whose side sit second in the Championship table.

Kane Hemmings (bottom) of Oxford United celebrates scoring the opening goal against Newcastle with his team mate Chris Maguire
Image: Kane Hemmings (bottom) of Oxford United celebrates scoring the opening goal against Newcastle with his team mate Chris Maguire

"And we didn't mark properly at corners. We paid for the first mistake in the second half.

"I feel sorry for our supporters because we wanted to go through in the cup."

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With Newcastle's cup run coming to an abrupt end, their attentions turn back to the Sky Bet Championship, where they are currently six points above Reading with a game in hand.

The match against Oxford was an opportunity to give some fringe players an opportunity to impress, and Mitrovic was one such player - having featured intermittently throughout the campaign.

Aleksandar Mitrovic of Newcastle United misses a penalty against Oxford United
Image: Aleksandar Mitrovic of Newcastle United misses a penalty against Oxford United

"Mitrovic was working hard for his chances. I was not thinking of playing him for 90 minutes but he was getting the chances. He was unlucky.

"We had our chances but we didn't take them. It's a cup game - when you play these games, you know anything can happen.

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