Southampton 0-1 Newcastle: Joelinton goal gives Newcastle EFL Cup semi-final advantage

Newcastle United maintain a slender advantage from the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg as Joelinton’s goal gave them victory at Southampton.

Newcastle will now be favourites to succeed in their first main Wembley remaining because the FA Cup in 1999 as they try to finish a trophy drought stretching again to the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup win.

And if Newcastle do full the job within the second leg on Tyneside they’ll owe a debt of gratitude to Nick Pope, who made two important second-half saves from Southampton substitute Che Adams with the rating nonetheless goalless, extending his exceptional private report to 10 successive clear sheets.

Southampton, who had what they thought was an equaliser from Adam Armstrong disallowed for handball by VAR, noticed their night time of frustration full when defender Duje Caleta-Car was despatched off within the closing minutes for a second yellow card.

Joelinton was a central determine, seeing a first-half goal contentiously dominated out for handball then blazing over an open goal when it appeared simpler to attain, earlier than hitting the goal to make Eddie Howe’s aspect agency favourites to succeed in Wembley.

The two sides meet at St James’ Park within the second leg on Tuesday, 31 January.

Newcastle’s march continues

Newcastle United’s dream season below Howe now carries the true prospect of a Wembley look to go alongside their problem for a spot within the Premier League’s high 4 and subsequent season’s Champions League.

They wanted the excellent interventions of keeper Pope to maintain Southampton at bay after they threatened after the break however Newcastle at all times carried a risk, even when a lot of their ending was wayward, and finally sharp work by substitute Isak delivered an opportunity Joelinton couldn’t miss.

Newcastle’s defence is so mean-spirited this season that one goal is invariably sufficient and so it proved as, for all Southampton’s effort, they merely couldn’t break by, leaving the Toon Army packed right into a nook of St Mary’s celebrating on the remaining whistle.

Howe will know Newcastle weren’t at their finest and confirmed nerves at occasions, however there can be satisfaction at getting this a part of the job completed towards a Southampton aspect that disposed of favourites Manchester City right here within the quarter-final.

It leaves Howe’s aspect in a beneficial place for the second leg in entrance an anticipated capability crowd at St James’ Park, with a Wembley remaining towards both Manchester United or Nottingham Forest because the prize on provide.

“Both sides had their moments and had probabilities to win the sport, however we all know it is solely half-time and there is a lengthy method to go,” mentioned Howe. “It’s been a very good day however there’s nonetheless a protracted method to go within the tie.

“I am unable to be important in any manner. We defended properly, Nick made some massive saves once more. He’s been excellent for us this 12 months, the defence has performed very properly in entrance of him however when referred to as upon he is delivered for us.

“I’m happy to win; that was our intention however we all know 1-0 is delicate. Nothing is determined.”

Southampton pissed off

The hosts have been left cursing each Newcastle’s excellent keeper Pope and VAR as they face an uphill process to overturn this slender deficit of their bid to succeed in Wembley.

Saints supervisor Nathan Jones was locked in deep dialogue with referee Stuart Attwell as they left the sector, discussing the VAR determination that dominated it was a handball by Adam Armstrong as he bundled house what he thought was the leveller simply after Joelinton’s goal.

Jones, nevertheless, may also know the important thing likelihood fell to Adams when he raced clear with the sport within the steadiness solely to be thwarted by the outstretched leg of Pope, who produced one other high-quality save from the striker’s close-range shot on the flip moments later.

“I’m actually happy with the extent of efficiency,” mentioned Jones. “These are a high aspect, massive bodily and athletic. They have had time to recruit and recruited that manner and they’re an actual powerful aspect to play towards.

“I believed we have been wonderful. They had a few massive probabilities and we had a few massive probabilities. For us to compete and be like we have been, it reveals we now have come a great distance and within the second half we went after the sport. We actually stepped it up.

“We simply lacked a bit of little bit of high quality by way of extensive areas. Once we get that confidence and get one or two in, we can be a special risk. I’m actually happy with them.”

Southampton battled all through however Newcastle’s defence is so tight that you just need to take probabilities after they current themselves. They couldn’t do it and can now journey to Tyneside as underdogs within the battle for a spot within the remaining.