Newcastle 2-1 Southampton: Local hero sends Mags to Wembley on magical night
“Don't ever give up on your club. Keep supporting it, it's your club & trust me, one day you will get your club back & it will be everything you wanted it to be." This was the message from Wor Flags' banner at the Gallowgate on January 31st, 2018.
Exactly five years on, Newcastle United have booked their place at Wembley on an emotional night at St James' Park - a poetic moment that shows good things really do come to those who wait!
It was an odd game, featuring an incredible start, a forgettable middle and slightly erratic end where Bruno Guimaraes saw red after VAR intervention, but it didn't matter in the end as Eddie Howe's gritty, determined and street-smart Mags found a way to win...again.
Flags were out in force, DJ Schak was pitch side pre-match, new signings Anthony Gordon and Harrison Ashby were given a huge Geordie welcome when unveiled before kick-off, with black and white scarves filling all four corners of St James' Park as the players came out to Local Hero.
The boss went with the same side that started the first leg - meaning another start for Callum Wilson - and it didn’t take long until he was rewarded, as Sean Longstaff more than made up for recent misses by rifling a low shot into the bottom corner after some lovely work from Bruno and Trippier in the build up.
St James’ Park was rocking as we doubled our advantage in the tie, but it was soon 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate as Longstaff arrived into the box and slotted past Bazunu after a lovely move down the left and clever cut-back from Almiron.
Ironically, Longstaff misses two big first half chances in our quarter final clash with Leicester, making this early brace a fitting moment for the much improved Geordie; who sparked brilliant scenes in the Gallowgate as limbs, scarves and flags filled every corner of St James’.
We played some stunning football in the first 20 minutes. It wasn't the first time a visiting side couldn't cope with out intensity both on and off the ball, but it was our quality on the ball that stood. Bruno looked in the mood, while Willock and Joelinton looked so lively down the left, with slick passing and constant movement bamboozling a Saints side overwhelmed by the pace of our play.
However, just as it felt like we had one foot in Wembley, a wayward pass from Willock fell to Che Adams. He had a LOT to do, but fired a stunning strike past Nick Pope to end the big man's 10-game run of clean sheets and bring Southampton back into the tie on the half hour mark.
The next 30 minutes of the game were surprisingly flat. Southampton never really troubled us and we too struggled to build on our fast start, reverting back to protecting mode after our three-goal lead was reduced to two.
Howe made a triple change with 60 minutes on the clock, seeing Isak, Saint-Maximin and Murphy replace Wilson, Willock and Almiron. Southampton had pushed up at this point and were huffing and puffing for a second, so it made sense to bring on three fresh forwards who had the pace to do damage on the break.
Instead, it was a superb volley from Longstaff and Bruno's narrow miss from range that saw us go close in the second half, before panic set in after the latter was sent off for a nasty foul on Edozie with 10 to play. I am convinced there was no intent to hurt the player, however it was a reckless lunge from the Brazilian and moment of carelessness that will now keep him out of upcoming league games against West Ham, Bournemouth and Liverpool.
Thankfully, a 10-man Toon dug in for what remained, securing a 2-1 win on the night and 3-1 victory on aggregate to kick-off some brilliant celebrations inside St James' Park.
Relief, disbelief, hugs, smiles and high fives followed everywhere you looked, with Howe, his staff and all of the players receiving standing ovations from the crowd during their victory lap.
Next up, a few days to let this sink in, followed by West Ham at home as Premier League football returns to St James’ on Saturday.
"TELL ME MA, ME MAAAAA!"
