Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!
Nathan Jones speaks to Sky. “I’m really proud of the level of performance, because [Newcastle] are a top side. They’ve had a couple of big chances, we’ve had a couple of big chances, but for us to compete shows we’ve come a long way. In the second half we stepped it up. They had a bit more quality than us in the wide areas. Once we get that confidence, and one or two in, we’ll be a different threat to go after them. Nowadays you can’t celebrate a goal because you never know. We’ve been the victim of four VAR calls. Was it the right one? You have to look at it a million times. Was it clear and obvious? If it touched his hand, you have to give it. They had one first half, we had one second, so it’s evened itself out. It was a really entertaining game, credit to Newcastle. We were brave, we were bold, and very energetic, and I’m proud. We’ve stopped conceding goals on a regular basis, we’re tougher to beat, and more difficult to play against. We just need to take chances when we get them. Alcaraz was phenomenal tonight, absolutely sensational. It’s a game of margins, but we’re so close to being a good side. We’ll go to St James’ Park to be positive. We have to try to win.”
Eddie Howe talks to Sky. “It was a tough game. Both teams had their moments. I am very pleased to win the game, though it’s only half time and there’s a long way to go. I had no real view of [Joelinton’s disallowed first-half goal]. The foul was given immediately for handball, VAR has backed it up so we have to accept it. We created chances. We weren’t clinical. But it happens. People miss opportunities. I can’t be critical of the team. I though [Armstrong’s disallowed second-half goal] was a goal, and was very pleased that VAR intervened for that one! Nick Pope made saves at big moments. He’s been outstanding for us this year.”
He’s also asked about Newcastle’s reported interest in Everton’s Anthony Gordon … but gives the square root of nothing away.
Hot managerial chat to come … but in the meantime, David Hytner’s report from St Mary’s has landed. Make sure you come back, now!
Man-of-the-match Bruno Guimaraes speaks to Sky. “We played very well in the first half, but missed some opportunities we cannot miss. I am proud of the team today. I cannot say too much [about Joelinton’s disallowed goal] because it happened too quickly and was difficult to see on the pitch. So I cannot speak too much. I would like to say thanks to Nick Pope, who is now the best keeper in the world!”
Nick Pope is beside him and adds: “I let one in, but VAR helped us out. You don’t get many reprieves so we’re happy with that one. We look really solid at the back and the boys work so hard to make that happen.”
Newcastle were the better team and throughly deserved their victory, which they mark by jigging around in front of the travelling fans, ahead of everyone’s 300-mile trek back home. Somewhere in a parallel universe, Joelinton is also celebrating a hat-trick, but in this space-time continuum he had a first-half goal unluckily ruled out, and missed a sitter minutes before scoring the winner. The scoreline flatters Saints, then … and yet Nathan Jones’ side didn’t play badly at all, putting in a lively second-half performance during which they were one unfortunate ricochet away from scoring themselves. Newcastle will be hot favourites to complete the job at St James’ Park next week, but Saints scrap to the end these days, and given the frayed tempers on display during the final few minutes tonight, expect the second leg to be great fun, one way or another. Gotta love sports! Gotta love the League Cup!
FULL TIME: Southampton 0-1 Newcastle United
The whistle goes, and Newcastle are 90 minutes away from Wembley and their first League Cup final since 1976!
90 min +5: Isak is crudely checked by Salisu, who goes into the book. Then there’s the treat of another melee, which quickly dies down. Fair to say the second leg is going to be a feisty one. The second half of this one certainly was.
90 min +4: On Sky Sports, Don Goodman names Bruno Guimaraes as his man of the match. It’s hard to argue with that verdict. Meanwhile Saint-Maximin tries to beat Bazunu from 50 yards, only for his shot to hit the back of Lyanco. Then there’s another attack, which ends with Isak rounding Bazunu on the right only to flutter the side netting.
90 min +3: Pretty much as you’d expect, the Newcastle fans are in party mode. The Blaydon Races booming out from their corner of the stadium. Several of their fans have also gone topless. It’s minus three degrees centigrade.
90 min +2: Murphy lashes a shot into the side netting from a tight angle on the right. He had Isak free at the far stick.
90 min: There should be plenty of added time given VAR this and brouhaha that … and the board goes up for five extra minutes.
88 min: Bednarek replaces Walker-Peters. Then Trippier looks to rake the resulting free kick into the top right from 25 yards, but can’t keep the shot down. Caleta-Car may well have saved Southampton conceding a second goal there, because Saint-Maximin had been in flight with shooting very much in mind.
87 min: There’s another brief melee, and Guimaraes is booked for his contribution. Then, as Caleta-Car departs, Murphy sarcastically waves goodbye in the Saints defender’s face. Caleta-Car briefly considers throwing hands, but sensibly ignores Murphy and disappears down the tunnel instead, limiting the disciplinary damage.
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RED CARD: Caleta-Car (Southampton)
86 min: Saint-Maximin dribbles with pace down the middle. He drops a shoulder to get past Caleta-Car with ease. He hangs out a leg, and a second yellow is inevitable.
85 min: … then Trippier balloons an uncharacteristically witless free kick straight into the arms of Bazunu.
84 min: Guimaraes powers his way down the middle and is half-dragged back by Lyanco. Guimaraes, on the floor, is shoved in the chest by Lyanco. Guimaraes isn’t happy, and the pair square up. For a second, it looks like it’s going to kick off big-style, especially when Saint-Maximin arrives to shove Lynaco, but it all calms down quickly enough. Lyanco and Saint-Maximin go into the book.
82 min: Diallo makes way for Lavia. Then the game restarts, and Bazunu’s pass upfield is charged down by Murphy. The Saints keeper is relieved to see the rebound ping harmlessly wide left of the goal and out for a goal kick.
80 min: St Mary’s erupted when Armstrong forced that ball into the Newcastle net. It’s a fairly quiet place right now. The away fans being the exception, of course, and they’re giving it the full Que Sera Sera treatment. They’re only one game and ten minutes plus stoppages away from Wembley, after all.
78 min: Armstrong, who thought he had a goal in a major semi-final against his boyhood club, looks utterly deflated. Meanwhile Newcastle, their lead maintained, replace Almiron with Murphy.
NO GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Newcastle United
… but VAR gets involved. Edozie’s cross was scuff-kicked by Armstrong, came off Burns’ thigh, up onto Armstrong’s right hand, back onto Burns’ knee and in. No goal.
GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Newcastle United (Armstrong 75)
An almost immediate response by the Saints! A cross comes looping into the Newcastle box from the right. Adams flicks a header on to Edozie, who dinks it back infield. Armstrong beats Burn to the ball, and bundles it into the bottom-left corner of the net! A slight deflection meant Pope was wrong-footed. Saints level!
GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Newcastle United (Joelinton 73)
He’s had one unluckily disallowed. He’s missed an absolute sitter. But now he’s on the scoresheet! Isak, tight on the right touchline, diddles Caleta-Car with absurd ease, dropping a shoulder to tear clear. He whistles a low cross into the six-yard box. Joelinton makes no mistake this time, and whips home from close range!
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72 min: The free kick leads to a corner which is claimed by Pope. He sets Newcastle off on the counter. Burn crosses low from the left. He kind of scuffs it, but the ball drops to Longstaff, who attempts to score with a backflick from six yards. He doesn’t connect.
70 min: Down the left, Edozie drops a shoulder to get past Trippier again with absurd ease. A booking for the Newcastle man, who faces a long 20 minutes against a young talent who has already skinned him twice.
69 min: “If Newcastle could hit the side of a barn, this would be done and dusted,” argues Joe Pearson. Yep, it’s becoming a minor issue for Eddie Howe’s team, who have only scored four times in their last six matches. With this in mind, Newcastle replace Wilson and Willock with Isak and Saint-Maximin.
67 min: Ward-Prowse curls the free kick into the mixer. The ball drops to Adams, who spins, ten yards out, and fires a shot towards the bottom right. Fine shot, but an even better save by Pope, who blocks. Armstrong can’t force the rebound home from a tight angle, then the ball breaks to Lyanco on the edge of the box. Over the bar the ball flies. This is so much better from the Saints.
66 min: Walker-Peters has sprung into life during the past ten minutes or so. He drives down the right and teases Botman into fouling him. Saints line up on the edge of the box. Ward-Prowse – who else? – to take.
64 min: Adams is sent scampering into acres of space down the left, chasing a long sliderule pass from Armstrong. He’s clear! Pope thinks about coming but stays. Adams fizzes towards the bottom right, but is denied by Pope’s strong outstretched leg. What a chance! What a save!
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62 min: Walker-Peters drives down the right and crosses for Ward-Prowse, who becomes the next player to try a Mark Hughes Special. It flies harmlessly over the bar, but the ball was slightly behind him and the bicycle kick had a difficulty tariff of 5.8.
60 min: Edozie skips past Trippier with ease, but after making some good ground down the left, plays a poor ball infield to nobody in particular. Still, his nifty skill to see off Trippier got the crowd going. “Joelinton reminded me of ...” It’s Jeff Sax, everyone. As founder of the Darwin Nunez Fan Club, he need tell us no more.
59 min: Walker-Peters dribbles down the right and, just before entering the box, is eased off the ball by Willock. Saints demand a penalty; they don’t even get a free kick. That looked the correct decision.
58 min: Saints make a couple of changes, replacing Orsic and Mara with Adams and Edozie.
57 min: Armstrong bustles across the face of the Newcastle box, right to left, before hoicking a half-decent shot high and wide. A good response to that burst of serious pressure from Newcastle.
56 min: … so having said that, Saints respond. Mara’s presence forces Schar into the concession of a corner on the right. From the set piece, Mara then nearly guides the ball into the bottom right, but Pope gathers calmly.
54 min: Newcastle are cranking up the pressure, though. Almiron worms his way down the right again, and sends another dangerous ball across the face of goal. Bazunu gets a hand to palm it away, but only to Botman, coming in from the left flank. Botman can only force the ball into the side netting. Saints hanging on a bit here.
53 min: Newcastle should be leading. Almiron one-twos with Longstaff and enters the Saints box from the right. Almiron whistles a low cross towards Joelinton, six yards out. The keeper nowhere. Joelinton has to send the net bulging, but he leans back and sends an out-of-control screamer over the bar. How did he miss?! A couple of very slight deflections as the cross came towards him, maybe, but even then there’s no excuse of missing an open goal from there.
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52 min: Willock attempts to outpace Salisu down the left. He doesn’t win the race. Then Almiron tries the same thing on the right, but can’t beat Walker-Peters.
50 min: Armstrong knocks the ball cutely past Guimaraes and Botman down the right, entering the Newcastle box. Armstrong’s cross is blocked by Joelinton, but sits up for Mara, who attempts a Mark Hughes-esque bicycle kick towards the top left. It’s high and wide, but not by an unreasonable distance, and he also gets full marks for ambition.
49 min: Otherwise, it’s been a bit scrappy since the restart.
47 min: Armstrong robs Burn down the Saints right. His cross is dangerous but Newcastle deal with it well and counter. Almiron powers his way down the left, holding off Salisu all the way. He cuts back for Longstaff, who makes like Willock and converts a wild shot for three rugby points. That’s three very similar chances Newcastle have created this evening, but they haven’t worked the keeper with any of them.
Saints get the second half underway. No changes.
Sky Sports have shown the disallowed goal from several angles. Seems it was ruled out on the pitch for a Joelinton handball; however, from one of those angles, the ball seemed to hit the Newcastle forward on the side of his body only. Really quite dangerously close to his left arm, mind, which is probably why VAR didn’t feel confident enough to overturn the decision. While that might annoy Newcastle, there’s some balance in the referee’s view of Pope’s clatter into Djenepo, which a less kindly official may have deemed out of control. Both teams have got away with one, then … although nobody knows anything any more, and you could easily make a case for the exact opposite. Gotta love sports!
Half-time entertainment. Of course, this game could end 7-7, and it still wouldn’t, simply couldn’t, win the award for Cup Tie of the Week. Oh Aberdeen!
HALF TIME: Southampton 0-0 Newcastle United
An entertaining, high-octane half comes to an end. Not a whole lot of end product, though, with both keepers making just one save each. Newcastle did have the ball in the net, mind. “Our announcers say the goal was disallowed for a Joelinton handball,” reports Joe Pearson from over the pond.
45 min +6: There didn’t look to be any malicious intent in Pope’s challenge on Djenepo. His eyes were fixed on the ball, which he got to first and headed powerfully clear. But you could make the case that his actions were inevitably going to put Djenepo in danger. He may feel relieved to have escaped censure.
45 min +4: As for the resulting free kick … well, there wasn’t one. Turns out the referee only awarded a throw. Armstrong is a concussion substitution, by the way.
45 min +3: Djenepo, eyes glazed, is helped off the park by two members of the Saints backroom team. He disappears gingerly down the tunnel. Adam Armstrong comes on in his stead.
45 min +2: The first two of the four added minutes are taken up with the physio looking after a very dazed Djenepo.
45 min: A long ball down the Southampton right. Djenepo chases after it. Pope races out of his box and wins a header, but properly clatters poor Djenepo in doing so. Just a free kick, nothing more, a yard or so outside the box on the right. There will be four added minutes.
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44 min: Or did the ball ping off Joelinton’s arm just before he slotted the disallowed goal? They’ve shown a few replays of the incident, and nothing egregious sticks out. Opinions will be available for free on the internet.
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42 min: Alcaraz sends a vicious low swerving shot straight at Pope from distance. Pope very nearly dives past it, but corrects himself just in time to turn the ball round the right-hand post. Nothing comes of the resulting corner. Both keepers have been put to work now all right!
40 min: The referee clearly thinks Wilson fouled Salisu. VAR checks, and doesn’t change his mind for him. But that looked pretty harsh on Wilson, who came together in a 50-50 with Salisu. It wasn’t a clear and obvious error, though, so the onfield decision stands.
39 min: Neither keeper has had anything significant to do … until now! Willock cuts in from the left and shoots low and hard. Bazunu parries brilliantly, but can only palm into the road of Wilson, who prepares to slam home only to be denied by Salisu’s brave block. The ball now breaks to Joelinton, who whips home from close range. But the whistle goes immediately. No goal!
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37 min: More frustration on display, this time by Guimaraes, who is livid that a Newcastle counter is stopped when Alcaraz lightly rugby tackles him around the waist. The Saints debutant goes into the book.
36 min: Ward-Prowse curls it in. Botman clears. A sigh of frustration from the home support.
35 min: Mara cuts in from the left and has a dig from distance. His shot is deflected off Longstaff and wide right of goal. Corner for the hosts.
34 min: Lyanco throws long from the right flank, hoping to cause bedlam in the Newcastle box. But Newcastle clear with ease and break at speed. Almiron and Trippier combine down the right, the latter crossing deep for Willock, who … thrashes a wild volley miles over the bar for the second time in this match. Almost a carbon copy of his second-minute effort.
32 min: Almiron is good to continue. Meanwhile as a tussle develops in midfield, Guimaraes swings an arm into Mara’s startled face. The crowd want coloured-card-based retribution, but the referee only awards a free kick. There wasn’t any intent, to be fair.
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30 min: Trippier takes the resulting free kick, swinging it in from the right. Walker-Peters heads out powerfully, then Orsic nearly shuttles it further forward with another header to Alcaraz. Wrong direction. Had he found his team-mate, Saints were off on the counter with Newcastle light at the back.
28 min: Alcarez creams a pass down the right for Almiron, who threatens to tear clear along the flank. As he nudges the ball past Caleta-Car, the Croatian defender scythes him down. Just a yellow, because there was cover infield, but that was cynical and Almiron felt that.
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26 min: Now Schar passes back carelessly under pressure from Mara. Pope doesn’t panic, and calmly completes the work he’s given do with the ball at his feet. Another example of the improved Southampton press.
25 min: Burn is nearly robbed on the halfway line by Djenepo. He gets away with his brain freeze, the ball landing in his favour after Djenepo blocks. Some evidence of the all-new Saints press under Nathan Jones.
23 min: Orsic bustles in from the left and would most likely have had a shot on goal from the edge of the box had he not taken a heavy touch while moving into space. Trippier whacks clear.
21 min: Longstaff, Guimaraes and Almiron paint some pretty triangles down the inside-right channel. Bazunu comes off his line to claim bravely at Almiron’s feet, at the cost of a whack on the nose. An accident, though it requires a bit of a patch-up job and a new shirt for the keeper.
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19 min: Corner for Newcastle on the left. Trippier’s delivery is punched confidently clear by Bazunu. No idea what the actual stats are, but it doesn’t feel like too much of this game is being played in the middle third of the park. Most of it near the Saints box, in fact.
18 min: Alcaraz strides up the middle of the park and nearly releases Mara with a long pass up the left channel. Pope reads the danger and races out of his box to intercept and clear. This is good fast fun.
16 min: Newcastle go straight down the other end, Almiron sending Trippier into space on the right. Trippier crosses at 101 mph, and Willock can’t meet it with a header at the far stick. That was Newcastle’s 11th touch in Southampton’s box; Saints have only had one up the other end.
15 min: Ward-Prowse curls a clever low cross into the mixer from the right. Alcaraz tries to sidefoot home first time from the penalty spot, but his shot is blocked by Schar and sails harmlessly through to Pope.
13 min: Willock crosses from the left. Wilson can’t bring the ball down to shoot. Newcastle try again, Almiron rolling cutely down the inside-right channel. He looks to have released Longstaff into the box, but Salisu sticks out a leg to make a perfectly timed block. Longstaff goes down, wanting a penalty, but neither referee nor VAR shows any interest in giving him one.
11 min: … and as though to prove it, he launches a long pass down the middle with that right peg. He very nearly releases Wilson into the Saints box, as well, but there’s too much juice on the ball and Bazunu tidies up.
10 min: Schar looks to have run off that sore whack on the knee. He’s moving much more freely now.
9 min: Salisu and Almiron trade loose passes in the middle of the park. The exchange allows Saints to push forward for the first time. Ward-Prowse swings deep from the right. Mara battles under the high ball but can’t connect to get anything goalwards. Both teams look in the mood. Well, it is a semi-final, and 1955/1976 (delete as appropriate) was a very long time ago, after all.
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7 min: … and when he does, he does so very gingerly. Schar will continue for now but he looks extremely uncomfortable, having twisted his knee in that collision. He’s feeling it and frowning.
6 min: Schar bashes a clearance up the Newcastle right. Mara comes across to block. The pair collide. Mara does nothing wrong, but Schar catches him on the follow through. Schar goes down clutching his right knee. He takes a while to get back up.
4 min: So much for that quiet start; Newcastle have made a fast one. They come again, throwing men forward. Trippier can’t get a shot away. The ball’s worked right to Longstaff, who rolls an inviting bundle-me-home low cross through the Saints six-yard box. There’s nobody there to convert.
2 min: A quiet start. Nathan Jones sitting back his dugout chair, Eddie Howe already prowling the touchline and performing some tactical hand jive. But then suddenly Newcastle break from a throw deep in their own half. Almiron races down the inside-right channel and draws the only two Southampton defenders anywhere near the play. Almiron rolls across to the completely free Willock, who … blazes wildly over the bar from 20 yards. An ambitious first-time effort but he had time and space to take a couple of steps.
Newcastle get the ball rolling. A reminder that VAR is in operation tonight.
The teams are out! Southampton in their red and white stripes, Newcastle wearing second-choice blue and yellow. An atmosphere fitting of a major semi-final: the PA is blasting out the Gordon Strachan approved Skids track The Saints Are Coming, but it’s nearly drowned out by the home fans belting out their similarly titled favourite spiritual. Marvellous. We’ll be off in a couple of minutes!
Eddie Howe speaks to Sky. “We’ve been looking forward to this game. The semi-final of a cup competition. It’s a big incentive for us. We know this game will be very difficult today, with Southampton in improved form of late. We have seven days to prepare for our next game, so I expect the lads to give everything. We have a really good bench to change things, but I am backing the players to give a good performance. If we keep creating chances, I back us to take them. Nathan has done a very good job and galvanised the club. We are prepared for a tough one. [Saints’ quarter-final win over Man City] was a hugely impressive performance … so we need to hit our best levels.”
A reminder that Newcastle are, kind of, the reason Jones has the Saints job in the first place. Ralph Hasenhuttl was given the old-heave ho after this rout a couple of months ago. “There are lessons to be learned,” his successor tells Sky. “We’re a different side, but it will have a bearing, because they are the same team.”
Saints boss Nathan Jones speaks to Sky Sports. “Eddie Howe has done a fantastic job. They’re on a wonderful run. We’re getting there. Coming in during mid-season is always difficult … it is a process but we have to get there quickly. We had to stop conceding goals. From that base, you’re able to be more fluent, more aggressive, more potent, and then you can create a good side. We’re starting to grow into the side we want to become. We know where we want to go and how to get there. This isn’t a distraction, it’s a nice, different game to prepare for. But the league is our bread and butter, and the be-all and end-all.”
Saints make four changes to the starting XI named for the narrow 1-0 home defeat by Aston Villa. Carlos Alcaraz and Mislav Orsic make their debuts, while Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo also step up; Adam Armstrong, Che Adams, Romeo Lavia and Samuel Edozie drop to the bench.
Newcastle have only lost two games all season, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Eddie Howe names the same XI starters that were sent out for the goalless draw at Crystal Palace last weekend.
The teams
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Caleta-Car, Salisu, Diallo, Alcaraz, Ward-Prowse, Djenepo, Orsic, Mara.
Subs: Caballero, Bednarek, Perraud, Lavia, Maitland-Niles, Edozie, Elyounoussi, A Armstrong, Adams.
Newcastle United: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Willock, Almiron, Joelinton, Wilson.
Subs: Darlow, Lascelles, Saint-Maximin, Ritchie, Lewis, Isak, Manquillo, Murphy, Anderson.
YOU REDS ❤️
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) January 24, 2023
Your #SaintsFC side to take on #NUFC in the #CarabaoCup: pic.twitter.com/qzJUyb9Ark
HOWAY NEWCASTLE! ⚫️⚪️#SOUNEW pic.twitter.com/c44disAAk7
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) January 24, 2023
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Preamble
Southampton haven’t won a domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 1976; Newcastle United have been waiting even longer, since their FA Cup win of 1955. Both have come close in the interim – Saints reached the finals of the FA Cup in 2003 and the League Cup in 1979 and 2017, Newcastle the finals of the FA Cup in 1998 and 1999 and the League Cup in 1976 – but no cigar. Could this year be the end of the long drought? Everyone’s dreaming. The first leg of the penultimate step to glory kicks off at 8pm GMT. It’s on!
