Albion blogger Jarrod Hill feels a sense of Deja Vu with Newcastle United in the fourth round as the Baggies dare to dream of repeating cup successes gone by.

So here we go again, taking a look at this weekend’s game against opponents we now know so well. In this day and age of reducing our carbon footprint, we should have offered them a lift back from Newcastle on Monday.

I know people in recent years have attempted to devalue the FA Cup, but for me it is still a competition I look forward to. Away from the pressure of trying to get league points, I find it easier to enjoy cup games and the memories created from our cup run a few seasons ago will stay with me forever.

Its one of those situations where as a fan you say “if we go out we can concentrate on the league,” quickly followed by “a good cup run can help breed confidence.” It’s this split thinking that helps me look at tomorrow’s game against the Magpies in a relaxed mood. It’s a kind of ‘lets see what happens,’ but I am not going to be to upset or overly joyous either way.

Due to the way tickets are allocated in FA Cup games, our home ties can often have a strange feel to them. For example, tomorrow’s game will see Newcastle fans take the whole of the Smethwick End and it means there is a totally different atmosphere within the stadium.

Similar to how Wolves fans grumbled a few seasons ago, when under instruction from the police, the club allowed us to have their home seats for a pie and a pint. Amusing as it was at the time, I do see their point.

‘The Smethwick Enders’ are arguably the most vociferous of our home support, although this season has seen a re-emergence of the Brummie Road Roar, but when these fans are dispersed amongst the other three stands the atmosphere suffers.

It has led to many fans now preferring away games in the competition and explains the take-up of tickets throughout the country by fans travelling to other grounds.

Anyway onto the game and Newcastle boss Chris Hughton has hinted at making a number of changes to the team we played on Monday night. He wants to rest some key players, so they remain fresh for the league and I wonder how our head coach Roberto Di Matteo views both the competition and this game.

There are a number of fringe players who would like to be involved and it will be interesting to see if we will see the likes of goalkeeper Dean Kiely, Chris Wood and Shelton Martis involved.

But the FA Cup is a competition that remains close to our gaffer’s heart, having won it twice as a player and I would not be surprised if we see him field the strongest possible team available. Plus what formation will he chose to go with? The 4-5-1 worked well on Monday, but there could be a change back to a 4-4-2 as we are at home.

Either way, I am in the camp that wants us to progress in the competition. You never know, if we get through to the next round we might even get to go to Molineux again.

Pie and a pint anyone?