Newcastle United are a potential 90 minutes away from their first domestic cup semi-final since 2005 after seeing off AFC Bournemouth at St James' Park. The game was far from a classic but it didn't need to be as Newcastle nudged into the last eight of the League Cup with the road to Wembley still very much open to them.
Fans will be eager to see the draw for the quarter-finals before plotting a route to the capital and daring to check hotel prices for the February 26 final showpiece. But there is certainly a good vibe about Eddie Howe's squad this year. And with the club heading into 2023 fighting on three fronts there is a feeling anything could still happen.
Eddie Howe's calm response on final whistle
The Newcastle boss didn't punch the air or celebrate wildly as referee John Brooks sounded the final whistle. It may have been a sign of respect to his old side Bournemouth or it could have been a nod to the fact, Newcastle were far from brilliant on the night.
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They did enough and made hard work of it at times against newly promoted opposition. Howe stated in the build-up to the game he was never able to think too seriously about the cups after leading Bournemouth up the leagues as they were understandably not his priority.
But with ambitious owners at St James' Park, there is certainly a chance of putting silverware in the cabinet. With teams like Man City, Man United and Liverpool also still in with a shout, it is not the time to get to excited but Newcastle live to fight another day in the League Cup. Howe's ice cool response at the end on Tuesday night was telling - he knows there's still work to be done.
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Steve Bruce led his side to Brentford in the last eight two years ago in a game played out in front of nobody apart from the watching media. But the 1-0 defeat to Thomas Frank's side sparked a furious reaction back home on Tyneside.
Bruce described the reaction as "hysterics" with the cup exit the start of a heated relationship with the media. That night losing to the then Championship was played down.
And while Bruce was desperate to win something for the club he supported as a kid, Newcastle look ill-prepared that night at the Community Stadium. Regardless of the opponents in the last eight, you get the feeling Howe and his staff will make a better fist of what can only be deemed as a HUGE opportunity to reach a semi-final of this competition for the first time since 1976.
Miguel Almiron miss should be kept in context
The Paraguay international has been the player of the season so far. With eight goals to his name and an assist, Newcastle wouldn't be where they are now without him. His first half miss fell to him on his weaker foot and while he may have dealt with this better when up to speed like he was before the break, it was still a harder chance than it looked.
A second look at the chance shows he may have been anticipating Sean Longstaff getting more contact on to Dan Burn's ball into the box. It was the type of chance he was burying before the World Cup break but don't forget Almiron bounced back to feed Kieran Trippier for the cross that led to the OG that won it.
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