28-year-old Kieron Dyer says he wants to win medals, and it is time Newcastle put a trophy on show. Newcastle last won the FA Cup in 1955 when they beat Manchester City 3-1 at Wembley, and that looks to be United's priority competition this term.
Dyer: "I don't want to be one of those players who go through their whole careers without winning anything. But we are still in with a chance in the FA Cup and we have been going all guns blazing in the Uefa Cup. Hopefully that will continue and if we get a bit of luck in the draws who knows what might happen?
"We are giving ourselves uphill challenges all the time at the minute. We started the match well and were in control of possession but our Achilles heel has been conceding goals from set-pieces and we let ourselves down again.
"Given that Birmingham were down to ten men and we were leading 2-1, we should really have killed the game off. But it's not all doom and gloom. We are in the hat for the next round and they are going to have to play at St James's Park (on January 17), which we have turned into a fortress of late. We are extremely confident we will progress to the next round.
"I feel that I'm getting sharper and stronger and hopefully I can carry that on for the rest of the season. In a couple of games time, I think I will be right back to my peak.
"My hamstring has got through another match without any problems and the longer I'm playing, the better it's going to be. It's onwards and upwards for me."