Rafa Benítez’s side looked to be heading out of the competition after falling behind to Bradley Dack’s bullet header, only for Matt Ritchie to convert a late penalty to spare the hosts’ blushes and set up another clash against Rovers at Ewood Park.
Sterry acknowledged that United rode their luck against Tony Mowbray’s second-tier outfit, though the young defender is hopeful he and his teammates can make the most of having a second bite of the cherry in just over a week’s time.
“Those games, we need to start sharp and start on the front foot. We should be keeping the ball a lot better and we should be creating more chances – we should be beating them, really,” he told nufc.co.uk. “It’s the FA Cup – a lot of teams can beat the big teams and it could have happened today. Blackburn are a really good team and they had the chances to beat us.
“We have got to be on the front foot next time and break them down. We need to make them know they’re in a game, instead of letting them keep the ball like they did at times today. We’ve got to get at them, put some tackles in and hopefully get an early goal.
“This season, we’ve done a lot better away from home, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to go and win every game away. We just have to keep working hard and go and do the job down there. It’d be nice to keep progressing in the competition for the whole club – it’d give the club a good boost.”
A groin injury meant that Sterry hadn’t featured for Newcastle since August’s Carabao Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest, and though a touch disappointed with his own display, he was understandably pleased at getting 90 minutes under his belt.
“It was my first game in four months, and it’s good to be back,” he said. “Obviously, there were a few mistakes, and I need to get on the ball a lot more, but I’m happy to be playing.
“I didn’t know if I’d play today or how long I’d play for, so I’m happy to get through the game. I need to keep learning, especially for their goal – I thought I should have done better. But I just have to keep working hard and learn from it.”
