... the majority of top-flight managers would rather do without the distraction of the FA Cup.
At this time of year Alan Pardew always hails the FA Cup as the second of his priorities ... then puts out the reserves.
And that, in itself, is one of the reasons why the Geordie public have yet to take the cockney to their hearts.
The FA Cup is still massive in this part of the country, and still remains the last domestic cup we won, although it was back in 1955.
Lambert will take his side into Saturday's third round tie against League One Sheffield United with a brutally honest message with regard to his side's priorities.
Asked whether most of his fellow managers would prefer to avoid the prestigious competition completely, Lambert told BBC Radio WM: "If they were being honest, they probably would do.
"Not just because of the money but survival in the league is vital.
"It is realistic. That is the nature of it.
"If anyone says any differently then I am not so sure they will be telling the truth because the Premier League is the most vital thing that anyone wants to get into and we are no different.
"Cup competitions, if you can get through, then absolutely I want to get through. I don't want to not get through but your main one is the league.
"We don't have a massive squad and points are really important."
WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
WEST BROM
1. Ben Foster
28. Billy Jones 45'
23. Gareth McAuley
3. Jonas Olsson
6. Liam Ridgewell
21. Youssouf Mulumbu
5. Claudio Yacob
18. Morgan Amalfitano
29. Stephane Sessegnon 77'
11. Chris Brunt
39. Nicolas Anelka 88'
Subs
7. James Morrison
9. Shane Long
13. Boaz Myhill
14. Diego Lugano
20. Matej Vydra 77'
22. Zoltan Gera 88'
38. Saido Berahino 45'
NEWCASTLE
1. Tim Krul
26. Mathieu Debuchy
6. Mike Williamson
2. Fabricio Coloccini 65'
3. Davide Santon
4. Yohan Cabaye
24. Cheick Tiote
11. Yoan Gouffran 45'
7. Moussa Sissoko
14. Loic Remy
23. Shola Ameobi 76'
Subs
8. Vurnon Anita
9. Papiss Cisse
10. Hatem Ben Arfa 45'
13. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa 65'
19. Massadio Haidara 76'
21. Rob Elliot
27. Steven Taylor 
Substitute Saido Berahino struck a late penalty as West Brom overcame 10-man Newcastle 1-0 for their first Barclays Premier League win under caretaker boss Keith Downing.
Berahino stepped up to score with four minutes remaining on a wet and blustery afternoon at The Hawthorns after Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul brought down Matej Vydra.
Krul escaped a red card for his challenge but team-mate Mathieu Debuchy saw no such leniency from referee Lee Mason after a two-footed challenge on Claudio Yacob.
It was West Brom's first victory in 10 games and was thoroughly merited after a hard-working performance.
It lifted some of the gloom with which 2013 ended after the sacking of head coach Steve Clarke and put aside the controversy generated by Nicolas Anelka's goal celebration last weekend.
Anelka could have done some of that himself had he not scooped over from close range before the break while Liam Ridgewell also missed a fine opportunity.
The Baggies forced the pace in the second half but what creativity there was in a largely subdued first period was created by the hosts.
Newcastle's Loic Remy fired over with the first serious attempt of the game but the impressive Morgan Amalfitano was the first to test a goalkeeper when he shot straight at Krul.
An ambitious attempt by Amalfitano to lob Krul from the right was dealt with by the goalkeeper before the same player shot over.
West Brom continued to look the livelier and Stephane Sessegnon was inches away from turning in a Ridgewell cross after good work by Anelka.
Baggies defender Billy Jones required treatment for a head injury after colliding with his own goalkeeper Ben Foster. The pair had both been forced to change direction and stretch for the ball after a Remy shot had taken a looping deflection.
That proved a rare attack from Newcastle and Jonas Olsson went close at the other end when he headed wide from an Amalfitano cross.
Amalfitano made more headway down the right and pulled back a good cross for Chris Brunt but the Albion captain, despite having time to aim from 10 yards, could not get direction on his header.
Anelka spurned an even better opportunity just before half-time, after yet more trickery from Amalfitano, when he remarkably shot over from four yards.
Jones did not return for the second half as Downing decided to liven up the attack by sending on Berahino.
Cheick Tiote tried his luck from distance for Newcastle after a clearance fell his way but Foster was alert to his bobbling volley.
West Brom decided to try a few long-ball attacks and one of them almost paid off as Berahino lashed in a shot after combining with Brunt but a defender blocked.
The tempo of the game started to increase as Remy controlled outside the area and cut inside to curl a shot over Foster's bar.
Newcastle were left facing an uphill struggle after Debuchy was dismissed in the game's first moment of controversy just after the hour.
Mason had no hesitation in showing a straight red card after Debuchy lunged in on Yacob, even though the Argentinian managed to jump and minimise contact.
Albion grew in confidence after that and forced the pace even more.
Newcastle regrouped and repelled a succession of attacks with Krul not seriously tested until Berahino fired a shot low at his near post after 75 minutes.
Yohan Cabaye - who Newcastle fans made clear they do not want to leave as they contemplated a month of transfer speculation - needed treatment after a challenge by Amalfitano but played on.
Ridgewell spurned a glorious opportunity nine minutes from time when he reached a Berahino cross ahead of Krul four yards out but somehow sidefooted wide.
There was still time for West Brom and their chance came after Vydra raced through and was tripped by Krul.
Berahino made no mistake and Newcastle could not recover, despite Cabaye shooting at Foster.
FA CUP (Played Saturday and Sunday)
FA Cup draw
Third round
Barnsley v Coventry
Yeovil v Leyton Orient
Liverpool v Oldham
Nottingham Forest v West Ham
Bristol City v Watford
Southend v Millwall
Middlesbrough v Hull
West Brom v Crystal Palace
Kidderminster v Peterborough
Doncaster v Stevenage
Stoke v Leicester
Southampton v Burnley
Newcastle v Cardiff
Rochdale v Leeds
Wigan v MK Dons
Charlton v Oxford
Manchester United v Swansea
Port Vale v Plymouth
Norwich v Fulham
Aston Villa v Sheffield United
Macclesfield v Sheffield Wednesday
Sunderland v Carlisle
Bolton v Blackpool
Blackburn v Manchester City
Everton v QPR
Brighton v Reading
Arsenal v Tottenham
Birmingham v Bristol Rovers/Crawley
Grimsby v Huddersfield
Ipswich v Preston
Derby v Chelsea
Bournemouth v Burton
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2013/14
PREMIER LEAGUE
WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini (65' Yanga-Mbiwa), Santon, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (45'Ben Arfa), Sissoko, Remy, Shola Ameobi (76' Haidara)
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, S Taylor
NEWCASTLE 0 ARSENAL 1
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita (74' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Sissoko (79' Haidara), Cabaye, Gouffran (62' Ben Arfa), Remy
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 5 STOKE CITY 1 (Remy 2, Gouffran, Cabaye, Cisse pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (61' Haidara), Anita (45' Shola Ameobi), Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cabaye, Gouffran (72' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE 3 (Cabaye, Gabbidon og, Ben Arfa pen)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Anita, Tiote, Sissoko, Cabaye (79' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Remy (75' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Cisse, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan
NEWCASTLE 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon (78' Haidara), Sissoko, Anita, Tiote, Gouffran (73' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (61' Cisse), Remy
Subs: Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
MAN UTD 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cabaye)
Krul, Debuchy (83' Yanga-Mbiwa), Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (78' Shola Ameobi), Tiote, Anita, Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran (57' Ben Arfa).
Subs: Cisse, Gutierrez, Elliot, Obertan
SWANSEA 3 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson (77' Yanga-Mbiwa), Coloccini, Santon (56' Haidara), Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi (67' Obertan), Remy
Subs: Anita, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 WBA 1 (Gouffran, Sissoko)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko (90+5' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi, Remy (84' Anita)
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 NORWICH CITY 1 (Remy, Gouffran)
Krul, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye (68' Anita), Gouffran (83' Ben Arfa), Shola Ameobi (74' Cisse), Remy.
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
TOTTENHAM 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote, Gouffran (85' Obertan), Remy (75' Cisse), Shola Ameobi (60' Anita).
Subs: Coloccini, Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 CHELSEA 0 (Gouffran, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Cabaye, Tiote (53' Anita), Gouffran (85' Obertan), Shola Ameobi (62' Cisse).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Tavernier.
SUNDERLAND 2 NEWCASTLE 1 (Debuchy)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Dummett, Santon, Sissoko (45' Cisse), Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran (86' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Remy (70' Shola Ameobi).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, Obertan.
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 LIVERPOOL 2 (Cabaye, Dummett)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Cabaye (78' Sammy Ameobi), Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko (45' Dummett), Remy, Ben Arfa (78' Anita).
Subs: Cisse, Elliot, Obertan, Dummett.
CARDIFF CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye (86' Ben Arfa), Gouffran, Sissoko, Remy (71' Gutierrez), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Yanga-Mbiwa, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
EVERTON 3 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cabaye, Remy)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa (46' Williamson), Coloccini, Santon, Tiote, Anita (69' Cisse), Ben Arfa (46' Cabaye), Sissoko, Gouffran, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY 3 (Remy 2)
Krul, Debuchy (86' Tiote), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (62' Gouffran), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (73' Marveaux), Remy
Subs: Williamson, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
ASTON VILLA 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ben Arfra, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Anita (74' Tiote), Cabaye (88' Sammy Ameobi), Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Remy (63' Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, S Taylor, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 1 FULHAM 0 (Ben Arfa)
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita 65' (Cabaye), Marveaux 74' (Remy), Shola Ameobi 65' (Gouffran), Cisse
Subs: Gosling, Elliot, Sammy Ameobi, Dummett
NEWCASTLE 0 WEST HAM 0
Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Anita, Marveaux 66' (Sammy Ameobi), Shola Ameobi, Cisse 72'
Subs: Gosling, Bigirimana, Elliot, Vuckic, Dummett
MAN CITY 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Debuchy, Coloccini, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Sissoko, Tiote, Gouffran 45+4' (Dummett), Ben Arfa 65' (Sammy Ameobi), Gutierrez 44' (Anita), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Marveaux, Shola Ameobi, Obertan
LEAGUE CUP
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2 (AET)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara (45 Dummett, 80 Ben Arfa), Anita, Tiote, Gouffran, Sissoko, Shola Ameobi (66 Cabaye), Cisse
Subs: Remy, Elliot, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi
NEWCASTLE 2 LEEDS UTD 0 (Cisse, Gouffran)
Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Gouffran (90' Vuckic), Anita (80' Gosling), Tiote, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Cisse (71' Obertan).
Subs: Ben Arfa, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bigirimana, Alnwick
MORECAMBE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi)
Elliot, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Good, Dummett, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux 88' (Sissoko), Vuckic 46' (Shola Ameobi), Sammy Ameobi, Gouffran 71' (Ben Arfa)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Alnwick, Streete