The Carabao Cup was on display in main reception here, dictating that Tottenham’s players trooped past it en route to the away dressing room before kick-off. If the sight of that trophy inspired Thomas Frank’s team, Newcastle’s desire to retain it proved infinitely stronger. As Eddie Howe put it: “This was a performance in line with our identity and our expectations. We were strong.”
Howe’s side could have been forgiven for prioritising the Champions League and the Premier League but, instead, they played with the zeal of a side still buoyed by their Wembley triumph in March.
Their passage to the quarter-finals this season and a home tie against Fulham in December was secured with goals from the impressive Fabian Schär and Nick Woltemade, not to mention another stunning midfield performance on Sandro Tonali’s part.
Howe had enthused about the variety and versatility of Tottenham’s buildups but, perhaps anxious to prove his own chameleon credentials, Newcastle’s manager tweaked his 4-3-3 system to create extra overloads down the flanks.
It meant that one full-back – Emil Krafth or Dan Burn – joined almost every attack as the home side temporarily shape‑shifted into a back three.
With Tonali once again reprising his impression of the complete modern midfielder, Spurs struggled to second‑guess their hosts. Admittedly after Harvey Barnes missed a decent opening, Frank’s team woke up and Brennan Johnson should have done better than slice a shot into the Gallowgate at the end of a fluent counterattack.
Howe’s reprieved players responded by rewarding the home fans who had struggled to get into the ground after the Microsoft internet outage on Wednesday left them unable to download match tickets.
It came in the form of a headed goal from Schär, who connected with Tonali’s corner as Tottenham’s zonal marking engendered a sense of chaos to rival anything seen earlier in the St James’ Park box office. It did not help that Djed Spence was out of position, lacing his boots. “Djed had his boot off and needed time to tie it, the referee made a mistake,” Frank said. “I have spoken to him about it.”
As Schär’s header powered beyond Antonin Kinsky’s reach, Howe applauded enthusiastically. The ball-playing former Switzerland central defender began the season in stellar form and was desperately unlucky to lose his place to Malick Thiaw after sustaining a concussion.
Now, with Sven Botman rested as Newcastle’s made eight changes to Tottenham’s four, Schär found himself stationed alongside Thiaw and doing a very good job of subduing Richarlison.
Although the imperious Lucas Bergvall did not deserve to finish on the losing team, Frank’s problem was that his forwards struggled to properly test Newcastle’s goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale.
Not that this lack of killer instinct was exclusively a Spurs problem. Had Barnes not clipped the crossbar with a late first-half volley following fine work from Tonali and Thiaw, Newcastle would have been two up at the interval.
Cardiff to host Chelsea
Cardiff have been handed a dream home Carabao Cup quarter-final tie against Chelsea.
The League One club are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, having won 2-1 at Welsh rivals Wrexham on Tuesday night.
Chelsea came through 4-3 against Wolves at Molinuex, holding off a second-half fightback from the home side to secure their place in the last eight.
Elsewhere in the draw, holders Newcastle will be at home to Fulham.
Crystal Palace will head to Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Manchester City, who came from behind to win 3-1 at Swansea, will be at home against Brentford. PA Media
Carabao Cup quarter-final draw in full
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Cardiff City v Chelsea
Manchester City v Brentford
Newcastle United v Fulham
The games will take place in the week commencing Monday 15 December.
If no player is more important to Howe’s team than Tonali right now, Nick Woltemade is not too far behind. The Germany centre-forward headed his side’s second goal at the outset of the second half after meeting Joe Willock’s beautifully dinked cross and capitalising on an unfortunate misunderstanding between Kinsky and Kevin Danso. And to think Woltemade, who has now scored six goals for Newcastle, insists he is infinitely happier with the ball at his feet.
Frank’s players have often shone aerially at dead balls this season but here Newcastle delighted in demonstrating that they, too, are pretty useful with their heads at set plays. “It’s something we’ve worked on really hard lately,” said Howe, who had reason to thank Ramsdale for a superb save to deny Pape Sarr. “We’ve got the height and power to cause teams problems.”
Well before the end home fans felt sufficiently confident to start singing about another trip to a major final. Their Carabao Cup anthem last season – “Tell me Ma, I won’t be home for tea … we’re going to Wemberlee” – received an airing as Howe introduced a series of substitutes.
They included Joelinton, who could count himself fortunate to be merely booked following a reckless tackle on the Tottenham substitute Mohammed Kudus. The same luck applied to Kudus, who responded by throwing his fists at the prone Brazilian before Joelinton fought back.
“It was a game of small margins,” Frank said. “It was really close.”
