Goal But No Glee For Papiss

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

Papiss Cisse was left with mixed emotions following Newcastle United's FA Cup third round defeat at the hands of Cardiff City on Saturday.

The Senegalese striker netted his third goal of the season to put the Magpies in front at St. James' Park.

But Bluebirds' substitutes Craig Noone and Fraizer Campbell responded, knocking United out of the famous competition at the first hurdle.

Cisse's effort was a classic poacher's strike, latching on to the loose ball after a Moussa Sissoko shot had been blocked, before slotting underneath City goalkeeper David Marshall.

And while he was delighted to bag his second goal in as many appearances, the front man revealed he would have swapped that for a victory.

"I was pleased to start the game and to score," Cisse told nufc.co.uk.

"I saw Moussa go at the defender, then the goalkeeper came out and I saw the second ball drop.

"I just tried to get there first, got a touch and scored so I am happy because it is my job to score goals.

"But at the same time I am also not happy because we lost a game which we should have won.

"I would have preferred to not score and we win the game, rather than score and we lose."

Saturday's defeat means United have now exited the FA Cup at the third round stage in three of the last four seasons.

And Cisse is determined to put things right next weekend as high-flying Manchester City come to Tyneside.

"It's not very good for us to go out of this competition so early," he said.

"We know how important the FA Cup is, we know what it means, but this is football sometimes and we put everything in to it.

"To lose the game is not good but I saw the team trying to win the game.

"I don't know what went wrong. It is difficult to understand.

"We will work hard on the training pitch this week because we have to put this right against Manchester City next weekend."

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