Newcastle United will host Southampton on Tuesday night with a 1 goal advantage in the EFL Cup last four.
Joelinton handed the Magpies the advantage and they will start with Nick Pope looking to add a 12th consecutive clean sheet to his proud record.
Eddie Howe’s side are strong favorites to meet Manchester United (or Nottingham Forest) in the final. United play on Wednesday with a three goal headstart.
Newcastle are inching ever closer to capping off their remarkable rise with a long-awaited major piece of silverware, which has eluded them since their 1954-55 FA Cup triumph.
They could now reach a domestic cup final for the first time since the 1998-99 FA Cup, which ended in final heartache to Manchester United.
Southampton are now aiming to become just the third team in EFL Cup history to reach the final after losing the first leg at home, with Stoke City’s winners of 1972 and Arsenal’s victors of 1987 both doing so. The away side have one clean sheet from their last 15 matches.
The Saints have also recorded a pair of 2-1 victories at Everton and Palace away from home in 2023, although Newcastle are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Southampton at St James’ Park.
It seems hard to suggest any way that Southampton could advance from this situation.