If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played, a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week.
The winners from the fourth qualifying round were South Shields, Willington, Blyth Spartans, Altrincham, Runcorn, Formby, Merthyr Tydfil, Frickley Colliery, Telford United, Banbury United, Grantham, Alfreton Town, King's Lynn, Boston United, Alvechurch, Chelmsford City, Hillingdon Borough, Dagenham, Hayes, Boreham Wood, Leytonstone, Hendon, Guildford City, Wimbledon, Hitchin Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Bideford and Weymouth.
However the club entered period of decline in subsequent seasons - this would be their last appearance in the FA Cup competition proper until 2022-23.
However, early in the second half Nottingham Forest went 3–1 up from a penalty awarded by the referee, Gordon Kew, who also sent off Newcastle's defender Pat Howard for protesting the decision.
The Newcastle United fans in the Leazes End of the ground (now the Sir John Hall stand) invaded the pitch.
Newcastle managed to come back and win with a late goal by their captain, Bobby Moncur, in spite of the two-goal and one-player deficit.
This decision was unprecedented at the time and the reaction was mixed, with Newcastle's defender Frank Clark suggesting that their comeback should have allowed them to go through outright.
The Nottingham Forest captain Bob Chapman stated, "we would have won it fair and square but for the trouble.
[4] Newcastle finally won the tie through a single Malcolm Macdonald goal in the second replay, also at Goodison Park.
[6] The final took place on Saturday, 4 May 1974 at Wembley and ended in a victory for Liverpool over Newcastle United by three goals to nil.
The right to show FA Cup games were, as with Football League matches, shared between the BBC and ITV network.
Burnley and Chairman Bob Lord also tried to stop the semi-final being covered by ITV but couldn't as the game was played at neutral Sheffield Wednesday.