Newcastle 2-1 Southampton (agg 3-1): Longstaff nets double as 10-gentleman hosts guide area at Wembley

What started as a stroll in direction of Wembley ended with nerves frayed. It wouldn’t be a cup semi-closing devoid of some of that. And it definitely would not be Newcastle.

Two plans up in a minor around 20 minutes soon after Sean Longstaff, a Geordie, scored his very first household plans for 4 years, Newcastle’s progression to their initial cup closing due to the fact 1999 appeared protected. 

Eddie Howe’s crew have been three ahead in the tie against a Southampton side that failed to automatically appear overawed by the problem, just nowhere around superior sufficient. Not just for this but also for the Leading League.

But when you have not accomplished one thing like this for so incredibly lengthy, items can increase complex extremely quickly and just about without having you noticing. 

So when Che Adams scored from nowhere for Southampton right after 50 percent an hour, Newcastle suddenly had some thing to assume about. 

And the additional they thought about it, the more it appeared to prey on their minds that probably this sport was not very finished soon after all.

Southampton ended up hardly ever rather excellent sufficient to present Newcastle with extra than a mild risk. 

But experienced Adam Armstrong carried out superior when performed distinct in the 72nd minute then this match and this tie would have been quite significantly alive. Nick Pope saved.

Then, not prolonged following that, Newcastle’s Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes was despatched off for a studs 1st tackle on Sam Edozie. 

That was a blow but more unsafe was the presentation of a cost-free-kick likelihood to Southampton expert James Ward-Prowse.

In truth when Newcastle ahead Alexander Isak jumped to block the shot with his deal with, the cheer from the Gallowgate was not pretty the loudest of the night but was fairly near. 

At that position, with Southampton quickly jogging really hard on desperation, there ended up continue to more than 10 minutes remaining.

So Newcastle are back in a ultimate at final and it is challenging not to feel happy for them. 

We can feel what we like about the club’s ownership – and we do – but this is a football neighborhood that has been to the perfectly to consume only to locate it empty or comprehensive of poison for so very long that they should have wondered if nearly anything superior was was at any time heading to transpire for them once again. And now it has.

Manager Eddie Howe warrants a thing to go his way, also. Possessing dragged Bournemouth from oblivion to the Premier League, gravity inevitably did its get the job done. 

The task he has completed in the north-east in little over a calendar year has been continuous, progressive and wise. 

He will lead a staff out at Wembley – in all chance in opposition to Manchester United – at the conclude of the month with completely no reason to consider his gamers underdogs. That says anything.

This usually means an dreadful ton to Newcastle supporters. Why else would anyone usually as amount-headed as their former goalkeeper Shay Specified be getting selfies at full-time by the aspect of the pitch? They will hope to get this closing for confident. 

But, unusual as it seems, it will be the day out that matters most. It is really the return to relevance that feels so lengthy overdue.

In this article, they ended up so much excellent to Southampton in the opining fifty percent an hour that it was very startling. Just a aim down from the to start with sport, Nathan Jones’ workforce have been a fast start off absent from threatening to destroy Newcastle’s evening. 

But Southampton ended up so pretty bad all through that phase. 

Newcastle were desperate to get to Wembley. Southampton had been just desperate. Time and time yet again they coughed up the ball seeking to engage in their way by the Newcastle push in their very own defensive third. 

Tactics? They ended up straight out of a file marked suicide.

Longstaff, 25, could have had a hat-trick in 20 minutes. Rather he settled for two. First he performed the ball large ideal to Kieran Trippier and eased in to the penalty location to consider the return and generate lower in to the goal in just the sixth moment. 

Then, after directing a similar probability vast of the put up right after a go from Bruno, he transformed his second in the 21st minute, moving on to a Miguel Almiron go that this time came from the left side.

Newcastle seemed protected now. Jones, on the touchline, seemed bemused. Up in the gods powering the Leazes Stop goal, the travelling Southampton admirers ought to have puzzled why they experienced bothered.

Adams’ aim on the 50 percent hour was a very good one particular. Joe Willock misplaced a move and Adams drove the ball minimal and throughout Pope from 25 yards. It was a goal that experienced not been coming and on reflection we can say it served only as an inconvenience for Newcastle.

Items did get a small sticky toward the end, even though. Armstrong genuinely should have scored when Romeo Lavia played him via. His first contact was heavy and that authorized Pope to progress. 

Then, after Longstaff threatened a hat-trick from length and Bruno struck a submit, the Brazilian’s deal with on Edozie acquired him a yellow card upgraded to crimson immediately after referee Paul Tierney consulted his monitor.

Ward-Prowse is arguably the most effective totally free-kick taker in the place but this time it was not to be. Newcastle were at Wembley and you will not find any individual in this aspect of the environment to argue – as numerous do – that this competition does not issue.