Winger Jerome Thomas insisted Albion would have kicked the ball out before winning their crucial second penalty – if they had known Shola Ameobi was injured.

In the tie’s most controversial incident, the Baggies broke from Ameobi’s failed penalty appeal with Thomas winning a spot-kick from which they went 3-1 ahead.

Newcastle claimed the home side should have stopped play as Ameobi lay prone at goalkeeper Scott Carson’s feet, but Thomas insisted they were oblivious to events behind them and had broken no rules.

The wide man said: “I saw them claim a penalty and then we broke. I didn’t know what the confusion was when I won the penalty. I thought they were claiming I’d dived but then I realised the issue was that no-one kicked the ball out of play.

“I honestly didn’t have a clue what was going on. We just broke and I was put through on goal and their player pulled me down. It was definitely a penalty for us. Whether they should have had a penalty first, I don’t know.

“You don’t have to kick the ball out – the rule has changed. But I didn’t see. I am an honest guy so I would have kicked it out anyway, especially as we were winning the game.

“But I just didn’t notice and I don’t think the player who put me through knew either. We just broke and that’s how it happened.”

Thomas and Co are now just two wins away from Albion’s second Wembley semi-final in two seasons.

Despite their main focus remaining on promotion to the Premier League, the former Charlton man insisted they will be going all-out to progress in the Cup.

He said: “I think we have a big enough squad and good enough players to go far in the cup. It’s not a case of concentrating on league. It’s no different in the next game. We’ll be looking to win it.

“The FA Cup is vital in terms of confidence and building up form. Simon Cox, Luke Moore and Ishmael couldn’t make the team on Saturday and Luke didn’t even make the bench, which shows our strength. So we can have a cup run.

“I’ve never really got far. With Charlton the emphasis was always on the League and getting to a certain points total and the Cup wasn’t important.

“That was how Alan Curbishley wanted to play. Here we don’t think like that. Even in the Carling Cup at the Emirates we put out a strong team and my mentality has always been to try to win every game.

“I think a lot of people downplay the cup to cover their own back. But who doesn’t want to go on a cup run? If you go to a final then of course you want to be there. That’s what we want to do.”