Rob Green has suggested that Nick Pope's "imposing" figure put Che Adams off from scoring during Newcastle United's 1-0 win over Southampton.
Eddie Howe's side are just one game away from reaching the Carabao Cup final. A win or a draw at St James's Park against Southampton in the return leg would see Newcastle take the trip to Wembley in February against one of Manchester United or Nottingham Forest.
Joelinton's 73rd minute strike sealed victory for Magpies after some clever work from Alexander Isak picked out the Brazilian in the six-yard box to tap home. At the other end, Pope did superbly to deny Southampton striker Che Adams with an out-stretched leg as he raced clear one-on-one, before once again preventing the striker from scoring with a close-range effort on the turn moments later.
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Green has now hailed the intimidating nature that Pope has in goal as he praised the 30-year-old for yet another impressive performance.
"Newcastle were rocking at that time [when Pope stopped Adams from scoring]," Green told BBC Radio 5Live. "Southampton had a real energy about them and were going forward and were aggressive.
"When Che Adams broke through we were just wondering whether he [would score] - he's a streaky player for goals - and you just never really felt overly confident for him.
"He [Adams] looked at Nick Pope and he's just huge in the goal and you wonder how imposing it is for Che Adams, running down on goal. He's got time to look at him and try and pick his spot, but Nick Pope saving it with his foot initially - he just looks absolutely ginormous, he covers all the goal.
"He [Pope] just feels so confident right now. And the second one [the follow-up save] looks comfortable but the small movements allowed that reaction save, it would have surprised him [Pope] because it came over share the shoulder from the striker.
"From there, it kind of just felt that Southampton went: 'Blimey, I don't think we're going to beat this guy today.' Newcastle went and got their goal and that bit of luck with the [Southampton] goal getting overruled - it was unfortunate for Adam Armstrong - but Newcastle deserved that bit of luck and look in very, very good shape."
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