Carabao Cup

THERE might not be any authentic Geordies in the Newcastle team once the Saudi money starts truly gushing into Tyneside.  So this was a night to cherish for the Toon Army, and for local hero Sean Longstaff, as his early double in front of the Gallowgate End propelled the club to its first Wembley final in 24 years. 
Sean Longstaff celebrated like Newcastle legend Alan Shearer as he sent the Magpies to WembleyCredit: Getty
The Magpies are into a first major final since 1999Credit: Getty
Longstaff coolly slotted Newcastle ahead less than five minutes into the gameCredit: Getty
Longstaff side-footed home a second on 21 minutesCredit: PA
A late red card for Bruno Guimaraes took some of the gloss off the eveningCredit: Getty
The big midfielder, Newcastle born and bred, was serenaded with cries of “he’s one of our own” from a home crowd who thought they might be able to enjoy a significant win without much anxiety or tension.
A late red card for Bruno Guimaraes, for an X-rated studs-up tackle on Sam Edozie, meant that it wasn’t as straightforward as all that. 
The Brazilian playmaker will be banned for three matches but returns in time for the Carabao Cup Final on February 26.
It caused some late nerves but ultimately it could not detract from Longstaff’s big night.
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Another North-Easterner, Dan Burn, had scored in the quarter-final victory over Leicester here, so these two can boast that they had played starring roles in the Cup run which has truly kick-started the Geordie Arabia revolution.
Now, in the Carabao Cup Final, they will face Manchester United – barring a miracle from Nottingham Forest in the second leg at Old Trafford – seeking a first major trophy in 54 years and a first Wembley final success in 68 years.
This was Eddie Howe’s 600th game as a manager – and surely no boss in history has reached such a landmark looking so young. 
And this was a fine occasion for the Newcastle chief to toast his landmark as struggling Southampton were downed by Longstaff’s twin strikes.   
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For a generation, this vast old place had been in a stupor, with little but howls of derision at their hated owner Mike Ashley or, worse still, the low hum of hopeless indifference.
But for the last year or so, St James’ Park has been reconnected to the mains, electricity surging through it, the volume cranked up to eleven.
The only thing they like to keep quiet about is where the money has come from.
Not that the new owners have spent a shedload just yet – just a fraction of Chelsea owner Todd Boehly’s half-billion-pound pebbledashing of the transfer market. 
And that is why their rivals are so fearful.
They know this Newcastle team will soon be adorned with genuine world-class talent and that they are difficult enough to beat already. 
For now, there are still a large number of players – Longstaff included – who were here before the big money arrived. 
There were more flags on display here than at your average May Day rally in Tiananmen Square.
There were black-and-white scarves propelled around heads by the tens of thousands and euphoric roars when Longstaff found the net. 
Before kick-off, they had paraded £45million new boy Anthony Gordon, who had performed a successful jailbreak from Goodison Park, along with Harrison Ashby, a young defender signed from West Ham. 
Newcastle had enjoyed a clear week since the first leg of this semi-final and Howe named an unchanged side from that which won through a Joelinton goal at St Mary’s. 
And it took just five minutes for Howe’s men to double their lead in the tie, some sorcery from Guimaraes in the middle of the park, then Kieran Trippier rampaging forward and squaring for Longstaff to score with a low drive into the far corner. 
If Newcastle’s progress to the final had been in any doubt at the start of the night, this effectively killed the tie.  
Longstaff lapped it up, as well he might have, given that he had failed to find the net at St James’ Park in four years, a run of 54 home appearances. 
A couple of minutes later, he should have had a second.
This time Guimaraes, slotted a cute pass through the lines but after cutting inside, the big midfielder dragged his shot wide. 
The Saints looked miles off the pace as Newcastle attacked with swagger and verve.
And the second goal was a peachy move.
Joe Willock started it near the halfway line, exchanged passes with Joelinton, advanced and fed Miguel Almiron, who cut back for Longstaff to drill home assuredly. 
But out of the blue, the Saints pulled one back just before the half-hour, a dozy pass from Willock went straight to Che Adams who netted with an angled drive from the edge of the area.
It ended Nick Pope’s infallible run of ten straight clean sheets.
The last time he’d conceded was a late consolation in a 4-1 league win over Southampton almost three months ago.  
After the break, Romeo Lavia sent Adam Amstrong clean through only for Pope to advance and save smartly.  
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Guimaraes had just curled a long-ranger against the post when he committed his horror challenge on Edozie – VAR sent Paul Tierney to his monitor and he awarded a red card to go with a free-kick in prime James Ward-Prowse territory. 
But the Saints skipper’s dead-ball effort caught Isak square in the face – a painful blow but a worthwhile one in the circumstances.
Che Adams pulled one back for Southampton with a stunning strike from rangeCredit: PA More

FOOTBALL fans were left confused after Idris Elba showed up to watch Newcastle take on Southampton in the Carabao Cup semi-final.The actor was treated to an entertaining spectacle as Toon raced into a 2-0 lead before being pegged back by a brilliant Che Adams strike.
Idris Elba was seated in the director’s box
He was sat next to Newcastle owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
Many fans were shocked to see Elba at St James Park, not least because he is an Arsenal fan.
And some felt hard done by as the Londoner was gifted one of the most sought-after Newcastle tickets in recent history.
Elba was picked up by the cameras and that sparked a reaction on social media.
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One fan said: “How did Idris Elba get a ticket? 🙃”
Another added: “Tell you what I didn’t have Idris Elba watching Newcastle United at St James’ Park on my 2023 bingo card but here we are.”
And a third said: “Idris Elba since you have more loyalty points than me fancy grabbing me a ticket for Wembley?! Happy to pay face value and buy you food and drinks for the day 😂”
Another commented: “I can’t believe Idris Elba is at the Newcastle match!”
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Newcastle are seeking to reach their first domestic cup final since 1999.
The Magpies last won a major honour in 1955 and will play Manchester United or Nottingham Forest if they overcome Southampton. More

NATHAN JONES has warned Newcastle that Jacob Murphy’s antics could come back to bite them tonight.The Toon winger waved goodbye to Saints defender Duje Caleta-Car’s face after he was sent off during the first-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final meeting last week.
Newcastle’s Jacob Murphy has been warned that his antics could come back to haunt himCredit: Reuters
The winger waved to Duje Caleta-Car after the Saints ace was sent-offCredit: Getty
Caleta-Car has served his ban and now Jones hopes his squad are fired up by the incident and can settle some scores at St. James’ Park.
Jones said: “It does add bite, it might. I’ve been in games where there has been a bit of niggle and a little bit of leftovers that sometimes come back to bite you and let’s hope that does.
“My motivation is to win the game and try and get Southampton to Wembley, I’ll do anything it takes to do that – within reason.”
The Saints head to Tyneside with a clear task, knowing they need to score at least once to reach the Carabao Cup final for the first time since 2017.
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And while there will be a deafening atmosphere this evening, Jones is relishing the chance to spoil the party.
He added: “It is a wonderful cup tie, a semi-final. This is why you come into sport and management. You want to test yourself at the highest level.
“If you fail, you fail. but if you succeed the rewards are massive.
“Mentally we’ll prepare the players for a vociferous atmosphere but these are the games you want to play in, you want to manage.
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“These are the games where you don’t want to wilt, you want to stand up and be counted and I’m excited about it rather than worried about it.”
Former Newcastle man Adam Armstrong saw a goal ruled out for handball in the first leg while Che Adams missed a golden chance to put the south coast side ahead before Joelinton’s goal.
Adams has struggled for form in front of goal of late and hasn’t scored since netting twice in an earlier round of the competition against League One Lincoln City.
But Jones, who is desperate to add a striker before tonight’s deadline, is confident the Scotland international will come good.
He said: “It is not so much that he is struggling because his all round play is magnificent. Then you just have to make decisions without fear or worry.
“If he’d scored that then brilliant, he’d be in a better place. It just takes one to go in and then I’m sure he’ll go on a run.
“Yes he’s missed a couple of big chances but he’s been really good for me.
“People have just got to put themselves in big positions and he does that and he doesn’t shy away from that and I know he’ll come good.” More