Lovenkrands hat-trick gives Magpies FA Cup joy

Danish international striker Peter Lovenkrands scored a hat-trick on Wednesday to ease Newcastle United to a 3-0 victory over fellow Championship side Plymouth Argyle in their FA Cup third round replay.

The 29-year-old – a former Rangers and Schalke 04 player – struck twice in the first-half and added his third in the 72nd minute to send the Championship leaders through to a fourth round meeting away at another second-tier outfit West Bromwich Albion, managed by former FA Cup winner Roberto di Matteo.

Lovenkrands has rarely shone at the Magpies but he more than repaid the faith shown in him by manager Chris Hughton as he struck in the 10th minute shooting home after fine work by man of the match, Argentinian winger Jonas Gutierrez.

Lovenkrands, who appeared at the 2002 World Cup finals and the Euro 2004 finals, struck again five minutes from the break with a header.

Plymouth, who are third from bottom of the Championship, never threatened Newcastle’s goal and Lovenkrands duly wrapped up the match 18 minutes from full-time with a soft shot which still crept past goalkeeper Roman Larrieu and extended Newcastle’s unbeaten run to 13.