Wembley remains tantalisingly within touching distance like a shimmering oasis in a barren desert. United are now through to the last eight of a competition that is winnable. Oh the possibilities!
The omens are there too. Exactly 47 years ago to the month United won a crucial tie at St James' Park 1-0 through an own goal and went on to reach their only ever league cup final at Wembley.
Back on December 3 of 1975 it was a clanger by Notts County keeper Eric McManus who fumbled a long throw from Malcolm Macdonald into his rigging to put United through to the semi-finals. This time it was Bournemouth skipper Adam Smith panicking at the lurking presence of Callum Wilson who did the dastardly and the Magpies were into the quarters.
READ MORE: What Eddie Howe told Newcastle players on his very first day as Magpies start to dream of cup glory
Who was in the stadium to witness the repeat of 75? That's right, SuperMac! We care nought that an own goal was needed to decide the tie after it took penalties last time out. United deserved to win and now let them go on to do even better come the final day.
What we need is a favour from another of our legendary players Shay Given when he takes part in the draw for the quarter-finals late on Thursday night. If he is picking the home teams let him pull out the name of his old club, if he is doing the away teams let him leave our number alone.
Those who feared the resumption of normal service after the World Cup interruption might mean returning to the grim old days of bad results rather than a continued victory run then they need not have worried. Newcastle overpowered Bournemouth before another SJP attendance that topped 51,000-plus which for a league cup tie confirmed the blind optimism that has engulfed the whole of Tyneside.
As a mood setter after a long lay off it set exactly the right winning tone for a difficult trip to a reinvigorated Leicester on Boxing Day. No one should under estimate what making it into the quarters means. Certainly Eddie Howe failed to get complacent, he picked his strongest side possible to do battle on the behalf of all Geordies which was a statement of real intent.
United cannot afford indifference to a competition admittedly rated beneath the Premier League and FA Cup. Their trophy cabinet has been empty for far too long to shrug off another failure as just a blip that matters little. This particular wait for a domestic cup has lasted 67 years which a life time for a club of supposed stature.
However the current joyful run has been extended to 12 unbeaten, seven victories on the bounce, and only one defeat in 18 league and cup matches all season. They are cracking figures.
A mean defence led ably by summer recruits Sven Botman and Nick Pope which kept another clean sheet now needs to do so again at Leicester to provide a platform for a positive return.
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