SAINTS' FA Cup luck held out again yesterday when they were handed a FIFTH sucessive home draw in the competition.

And a home tie in the third round against Alan Shearer's Newcastle presents a mouthwatering prospect for the St Mary's faithful in the first weekend of January.

Saints have already lost 1-0 at Newcastle this season, ex-Dell favourite Shearer on target.

But Saints will be boosted for the third round tie by the fact they have never lost a cup tie at St Mary's.

And their home record against Newcastle is little short of exceptional.

Saints have won 11 of their last 16 home league games against Newcastle, with the other six being drawn.

The last time the Toon won at Saints was a 2-1 league win in February 1972.

Boss Gordon Strachan said: "Since I've been here we've had two great games at home to Newcastle. If this is anything like those two I'll be happy."

Strachan was referring to a 3-1 win on the final day of the 2001/02 season and an entertaining 1-1 draw last November which saw Chris Marsden equalise with his only league goal of the campaign.

The two teams have only met seven times in the FA Cup - of which only two have come since World War II.

The last occasion was on January 3 1970 when Saints defeated United 3-0 at The Dell with goals from Frank Saul (2) and Mike Channon.

The strikes took Saul's cup tally for Saints to 10 in 12 appearances - compared to 12 in 61 league games.

Yeovil defender Adam Lockwood, meanwhile, rates his side's FA Cup chances against Premiership giants Liverpool as 50-50.

Lockwood was delighted after the draw that kept the cup's famous romance alive.

The Nationwide Division Three newcomers have a history of upsets in the FA Cup as a non-league team.

And the Leeds Academy product sees no reason why the Somerset side should be overawed by the Merseysiders - six times winners of the competition.

He said: "It's good to be part of a game like that. It's good to be testing yourself against the best."

The 22-year-old continued: "You never know what will happen. We've got a 50-50 chance.

"You could go all through the team and name players like (Harry) Kewell and (Steven) Gerrard and (Michael) Owen.

"We've got a great squad and a great team spirit. We work together as a team.

"If we play well and if we catch them on an off day, anyone could be a hero on the day."