Shortly after Adam Smith’s own goal gave Newcastle the lead, the Gallowgate End broke into a brief chorus of “We’re going to Wemberlee” but it was strangely half-hearted and soon died in the cool Tyneside night air.
By the final whistle Eddie Howe’s side had made it to the quarter-finals but the overall stodginess of the performance explained their fans’ unusual lack of animation. It seems there is still some considerable warming up to be done before they visit Leicester on Premier League business on Boxing Day.
