Our first semi-final appearance for 18 years and the first of two huge games against Southampton as Eddie Howe’s Mags head to Southampton.
A long trip for the travelling Toon Army but one that will be well worth effort if we can return to Tyneside with a positive result ahead of the second leg at St James’ Park.
Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace was our third stalemate in our last four games. We controlled the game, played some nice stuff at times and looked superb defensively yet again, but our lack of cutting edge in the final third and inability to create any big openings was a concern.
I wouldn’t say we look particularly tired, however we do look like a side in need of some added spark and fresh ideas in attack, with goals drying up for Miguel Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes forced to play deep and Callum Wilson looking sluggish after a period of illness has seen him miss big chunks of training.
At the other end, Nick Pope’s stunning late save made it NINE clean sheets on the spin in all competitions. Believe it or not, he’s not conceded a goal since Southampton’s consolation strike in a 4-1 win at St Mary’s way back in November.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s cup clash, here’s what Howe’s had to say:
“The semi-final itself isn’t enough. I don’t think it’s enough for anybody. You go into these games & to say that you got to a semi-final means nothing ultimately. You want to get one step further and I know the players feel the same.
“We want it to be a tie for the supporters. The only way we can guarantee that is by performing at our best. The home game will also be a very special night. Our job is to make sure we are in a good position going into it.
“We’re desperate for the next step but we have to take our mind off that and focus on the job and that is to go to Southampton and perform.”
Team news
Bruno Guimaraes came through Saturday’s draw unscathed, with Howe insisting he was ‘100% fit’ to play after an ankle scare.
Jonjo Shelvey (calf), Matt Targett (heel) and Emil Krafth (ACL) have been ruled out, while Martin Dubravka is cup tied after featuring in the competition for Man Utd.
For the hosts, centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap will be missing, but Polish defender Jan Bednarek could feature after being recalled from a loan spell at Aston Villa.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if Howe selected the same unchanged side that drew 0-0 at Palace, but I do wonder if it’s time to shake things up.
Our form remains rock solid, however Wilson continued to look a few levels below his best over the weekend and could probably do with a rest after struggling with illness since returning from the World Cup.
However, Howe’s comments in his Monday morning presser suggested a reluctance to throw Isak in from the start after a limited amount of training time.
As for Allan Saint-Maximin, the boss said he is now in ‘peak physical shape’ ahead of the game, so I’m backing the Frenchman to come in for Joe Willock, meaning Joelinton could be on the left-side of a midfield three to plug any defensive gaps ASM may leave.
Prediction
Southampton were outstanding in the last round, conceding zero shots on goal in a 2-0 win over Man City.
They’ve won three of their last four games, but are bottom for a reason and come up against a highly-motivated Newcastle side who beat them 4-1 when the two sides met in the Premier League in November.
Wilson to end his eight-game run without a goal and hand the Toon a big advantage heading into next week’s return leg on Tyneside.
Prediction: Southampton 0-1 Newcastle
Why havent we been linked with Palhinha of Fulham? He looks exactly the sort of defensive mid who could free up Bruno.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That’s probably the line-up I would go for, though tempted to give Wilson a bit of a rest and start with Isak. There’s a lot of noise about our lack of goals recently, I’m not hugely concerned about it just yet because we made plenty of chances against Palace, it just didn’t fall for us. 0-0 was a great result against Arsenal and Leeds just came to grind out a draw. I do think Maxi needs to start and show what he can do, the super sub role hasn’t suited him so far. If things aren’t going at half time change Longstaff for Willock and give him more license to get in the box.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – welcome back mate. You well?
Ollie – we don’t play on Sat.
georgio(Quote)
Thanks Georgio mate, how you doing? All good here – I just had to pack in reading or talking about the Toon once Bruce got appointed, think I’ve finally recovered now though 😉
Newkie(Quote)
Looking forward to game tonight.
Be interesting to see how Southampton set up. Go after Newcastle as they did to Manc or sit and rely on set pieces I hope they go for it and look to sit at sjp. If they do then that should afford space to Newcastle and I trust that defence
Ref team selection .. tough choice up top unfit wilson or not quite match ready ( according to Howe) Isak
I can see why he’d bring in st maximan and if so I’d look at hooking almiron not willock
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Stupid me. Wasn’t thinking! Good news is we don’t play over the FA Cup weekend and Southampton do.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
I would put Isak in. Eddie has been saying the illness has affected Callum, so swap roles and have Isak start and Wilson as impact sub. Eddie has even laid the ground work for this in his interviews.
Howe and Wilson have known each other for years and I am sure that sitting Callum for a half would not “ruin his confidence” as some half-wits on the internet are saying. Until all of these NIFC forums I didnt quite realise how stupid some NUFC fans are.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Should Gary Neville be allowed to be a pundit? He says some very clever stuff but when it comes to Man U he cannot think straight. He said this week he thinks Man U will finish above Arsenal. What logical reason can he have for that? It may happen but I bet he could get double digits to 1 that it WILL happen.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Craig Hope is saying NUFC have opened formal talks for Anthony Gordon. 25 million plus ad-ons. The fee is much more reasonable than in the summer, but that is because he has been dogshit this year. He was OK last year and at 20 there was potential there. Now I am not sure what we would get. He is really fast, but would we end up with Dan James with more yellow cards?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I thought you suggested he could become a RWB
PremAndUp(Quote)
I did prem. i was trying to see what our recruitment team sees in him. I have watched quite a few Everton games this year as I was sort of wallowing in their misery because of quotes from their fans about us in the past. He was terrible as a number 10 so he has to play out wide and wing backs often play like wingers now – look across Stanley Park and TAA and Robertson.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anyway, I am going to listen to a Youtube watchalong as it is not on any of the channels I have here. I cant stand Radio Newcastle (because of Ando) so I am glad there is an alternative.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Fkin hire car company cancelled my car just now so my plans to stop off in a pub and watch the game as I swing past Southampton are a bust. Hope 5live have commentary. Got my toon top with me and everything too😝
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
I was listening to local journalist Ross Gregory and he was saying that Howe is big on PL experience. Oh Really!!!!!!!!! Let’s have a look at our biggest signings. Not all signed under Howe but he still plays them:
Isak
Bruno
Botman
Joelinton
Miggy
St Max
All are in our 10 most expensive signings of all time. The only one that would break this up is Willock.
These journos have their narratives and stick with them even though the FACTS are totally contradictory.
You add in Schar who we got on the cheap and 7 of our regular starters had no PL experience before starting for us.
Can I have Ross Grogory’s job? I can make stuff up as well and stick with it regardless of the FACTS
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Go West: did you see that Seinfeld episode where Jerry’s car was cancelled?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Go West: you have to do this in a Seinfeld voice, but when they tell him they don’t have his car but they do have his reservation he says “you are good at taking the reservation, you are just not good at keeping the reservation”.
I had the hard sell for insurance at Newcastle airport. It would have doubled the cost and I already had 3rd party plus my US insurance. She tried like 5 different ways and I eventually said that I had already turned it down 4 times., can I just have the keys to my car, I will sign any waiver you want. Then one of her male co-wprkers got really aggressive like he wanted to fight me. I wish he had because then he wouldnt have a job, there are TV cameras all over in airports.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Unchanged
PremAndUp(Quote)
Here we go! Probably won’t be easy. We need to remember they beat City!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
bit tetchy this game
not a good place to concede a free kick
kimtoon(Quote)
Very messy scrappy first half. When did Willock decide he’s a rugby player?
Never a handball there. Robbed of a good goal once again. 😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Clear legitimate goal… fuming 😡
Gilly Toon(Quote)
that was a perfectly good goal, hit his chest not his arm
kimtoon(Quote)
Same old same old – poor in the final 3rd, Willock snatching at chances & Wilson off the boil.
It’s a bit frustrating Howe picking the same team & expecting different outcomes.
We need a goal or 2 tonight coz 0-0 and Saints come to SJP fancying their chances.
If that’s Joelinton hitting the shot it’s a goal – if it’s JWP it’s a handball 😂. BUT why the ref didn’t get to look at it on the monitor before ruling it out is beyond me!!. He wasn’t confident it was handball – no chance. What harm in looking at other angles??!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Why can’t football learn from other sports??
In rugby, before the ref awards the try he asks the video ref to check certain things – offsides, the grounding of the ball.
Why can’t the ref in football do similar and instead of making an immediate decision, ask to see if back on screen & the various angles.
Sharpy17(Quote)
o m g Joe
hopeless
kimtoon(Quote)
That’s disgraceful by Joelinton!!.
Then Botman – not quite as easy to be fair.
I’m steaming here!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
This is really poor to watch from us here.
We look shattered & have lost control of the game almost completely.
We need fresh legs on – Isak, ASM and Murphy to run them
Sharpy17(Quote)
brilliant Pope
kimtoon(Quote)
They are quicker, tougher in the tackling & running us ragged here 😡😡😡
Sharpy17(Quote)
pope motm
kimtoon(Quote)
getinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
kimtoon(Quote)
@eric .. never really watched Seinfeld but I almost snapped when the lad ‘assisting’ me added if there was ‘anything else’ he could help me with after he was of no help whatsoever .. but they have recordings as well as video😉
@sharpy def something in football tweaking var procedures. Speculation on radio was that once ref gave it var couldn’t overturn as no no clear evidence to overturn. if he’d given it they were saying it would have stood as no clear evidence to overturn.
Frustrating listening so almost glad I didn’t have to watch it
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
What a frustrating match. Glad we got the win, but should’ve been 3 or 4 nil. Isak did very well, has to start next game.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Lots of evidence to allow the goal if var show the ref a different angle. But var are corrupt.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
I get Howe may be reluctant to change a winning team – especially after when he did we got beat against Shef Wed – but I think he made too many changes that game.
The team is starting to look like they are feeling it now. The things they have been doing really well they are struggling with a bit now – even simple passes tonight weren’t great at times.
Isak & Maxi made a big difference.
Willock & Wilson struggled again & even BDB got caught out a lot tonight.
I think it was a deserved win – but far harder fought than should have been.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Go West – that’s the problem mate. It’s seen as one overruling the other rather than them working together to get the decision right.
I think that’s as much down to media & pundits.
But it’s defo a square peg, round hole scenario at the mo – and yet other sports have managed to get it right.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Joelinton should’ve had a hat trick tonight.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – that one he skied – can’t remember the last time I swore that much 🫢🤐
Sharpy17(Quote)