No, you did not dream it - Newcastle United really have reached their first League Cup final since 1976. The sleeping giant has long awoken from its slumber and the deafening roar that greeted the final whistle on Tuesday night told you that following the Magpies' 2-1 win against Southampton in their semi-final second-leg.
There were 100 minutes on the clock when referee Paul Tierney finally blew up and St James' Park erupted as 'Que Sera, Sera' played over the public address system following Newcastle's 3-1 aggregate victory. For those supporters struggling to comprehend what had just happened, the words were there for them in black and white on the big screen: 'We are going to Wembley!!'
It has been a long time since this stadium had played host to a night quite like it. Dan Burn told Sky Sports that he had 'never played in an atmosphere like that before'. Match-winner Sean Longstaff added 'it was a really special night - not just for me but every person in Newcastle.'
READ MORE: Newcastle have Bruno ban solution, Anthony Gordon blown away and an emotional goodbye - 5 things
It was rather fitting that it was Longstaff who popped up with both goals inside the opening 21 minutes. Longstaff knew more than most how much it would mean to Newcastle to reach a final and the Geordie celebrated each goal as if he was standing on the Gallowgate himself. To think these were Longstaff's first goals at home in nearly four years - what a time to step up.
Although Che Adams did pull one back for Southampton before the half-hour mark, Newcastle did not crumble like they might have once upon a time - even after losing Bruno Guimaraes to a late red card. This really did feel like a new era on a night where Jonjo Shelvey and Karl Darlow bid farewell and new signings Anthony Gordon and Harrison Ashby were presented to the crowd in a symbolic changing of the guard.
Shelvey, who said goodbye to supporters with his kids at half-time, gave an emotional farewell speech to his former team-mates after the game. As well as thanking everyone in the dressing room for their help over the years, Shelvey spoke about his own journey at the club - the good times and the bad - before being given a final round of applause.
Shelvey may be a Nottingham Forest player now, but you can be sure the playmaker will be cheering on Newcastle from afar at Wembley later this month, and getting to the final is no mean feat. Alan Shearer, David Ginola and Shay Given were just some of those legends in attendance on Tuesday night who never had the chance to represent this club at this stage of the competition. However, now that Newcastle have got to the final, Howe is desperate to go and win the trophy.
"As humans, you think you want something and then you achieve getting to the final, which is what we wanted," the Newcastle boss told reporters. "Then you go, 'Well, I'm not happy with that. We've got to win it.'
"That's a great thing and I want my players to feel the same way, but that can wait now and that has to be at the back of our minds - not at the forefront of our minds. At the forefront of our minds is West Ham."
That Howe was immediately thinking about Saturday's visit of the Hammers should not come as a surprise. It is a mentality that has been at the heart of Newcastle's turnaround in the last 12 months.
Reaching a final was a prospect that felt a world away a year ago, when Newcastle were in the relegation zone, but anything now feels possible for the group, who certainly won't fear a potential final against Manchester United if the Red Devils, as expected, book their place at Wembley tonight. If anything, the Magpies will relish it.
Although supporters are understandably daring to dream, you suspect there will be a calmness around the training ground in the coming weeks - just as there was before Tuesday's decisive semi-final tie. In truth, Howe and his staff prepared for this game in the same manner they will for Saturday's visit of West Ham.
This may have been Newcastle's biggest fixture in years, but there was no change in approach and players and staff simply blocked out the noise. As captain Jamaal Lascelles wrote in his programme notes: "We haven't done anything yet. We need to get the job done tonight."
Newcastle set out to do just that from the off and the Magpies quickly fed off the energy from the crowd and got off to the perfect start. There were just five minutes on the clock when Longstaff slipped the ball into the path of the onrushing Trippier on the edge of the area before the midfielder ghosted into the box unmarked. Trippier squared the ball to his team-mate and Longstaff, who has missed some big chances in recent weeks, made no mistake and drilled the ball into the net. You could see how much the goal meant to Longstaff as he wheeled away and slid on the turf right in front of the Gallowgate and the Geordie's night was about to get even better.
Willock's clever reverse pass slipped Almiron in down the left in the 21st minute and the Paraguay international's clever pullback was met by Longstaff, who timed his run expertly before slamming home. There was to be no knee slide, this time, but Longstaff instinctively raised his arm in the air, almost in tribute to Shearer, the man who has given him one or two finishing tips of late.
Newcastle were on their way to Wembley. Or so it seemed. Southampton, to their credit, responded before the half-hour mark after punishing the sloppy hosts. Willock opted not to take an extra touch following Burn's pass down the line and the midfielder tried to find Bruno first-time. However, the pass was too heavy and Che Adams pounced before lashing the ball from 25 yards into the bottom corner. It was the first goal Nick Pope had conceded since November and, all of a sudden, St James' got a little tense as the hosts lost their rhythm.
Southampton came close to grabbing another in the 71st minute when Romeo Lavia's stunning reverse pass cut Newcastle open and Adam Armstrong was played in one-on-one against his former club. However, Pope rushed out of his goal, made himself big and, crucially, kept the striker's effort out.
Bruno was then sent off at the death, after VAR intervened following the Brazil international's dangerous tackle on substitute Sam Edozie, but Newcastle supporters carried their 10 men over the line. Whatever will be, will be.
READ NEXT
Eddie Howe reacts to Anthony Gordon's scrap with Newcastle players and 'emotional' talks held
Everything Eddie Howe said on Southampton, transfers and Shelvey at Newcastle press conference
Newcastle get squad bonus with Anthony Gordon transfer but he won't play against Southampton
Newcastle's unseen Anthony Gordon transfer prep will ease fears after training ground shock
Newcastle fear cheeky moment may just give fuming Southampton extra motivation at St James' Park
