Carabao? It’s not as good for you as Knox Hydrate but it’s definitely been a cup that cheers

There were a range of conflicting opinions about the managerial situation at Newcastle United last season.

Whatever your view on the position though, it is an undeniable fact that the club has recently parted company with the greatest League Cup manager in its history.

In the 61 times the League Cup was contested up to 2021, Newcastle United had reached the quarter final on a paltry nine occasions. They had won one of those nine and lost the rest.

Eddie Howe’s four straight quarter finals improved that record considerably and the one time he didn’t go further was still a better showing than any of United’s previous efforts bar that 1976 run to the final, as at least they didn’t lose the actual match to Chelsea, going out on penalties.

You don’t need me to tell you that the other occasions saw our appearances in League Cup finals treble and the small matter of us actually winning the thing for the first time. I’m already thinking longingly of that gold arm patch I elected to get on my shirt last year.

So after four years with a record of P22 W16 D3 L3 (or W18 L4 if you want to count penalties) with 13 Premier League sides beaten including all of the establishment six, it was time to see how the new regime viewed a competition we’ve been a little bit in love with over recent years.

West Brom returned to Gallowgate after a considerable absence since a fairly healthy run of Premier League participation. Their last appearance was in the BCD phase of Covid, but a consult with the record books confirms that the last time they played in front of a crowd at Gallowgate they conspired to ruin my daughter’s first game, winning 1-0 while putting together one of those unlikely runs that almost relegated teams sometimes muster.

I also had a bad memory of their beating Bobby Robson’s team in this competition at a time when we’d have earnestly hoped they could win it/something so I was well steeled for this lot turning in a killjoy performance. The fact they were two from two in the Championship actually offered encouragement, as focus would likely be more on their early Saturday kick off at Middlesbrough, shady though it felt hoping that a second tier side would go easy on us.

It turned out this was sort of true as Albion made six changes from their win over Burnley, the same as United who stuck with the same back four and Sean Steur in midfield. However, WBA were clearly not intent on just going through the motions and keeping the focus on the weekend [when they face Boro on Saturday in an early kick-off). It’s a dilemma as I always think anyone hoping to gain promotion from the Championship just needs to excuse themselves from the distractions of the cups at the earliest opportunity, but to do so may affect momentum. West Brom were clearly of a mindset to keep their wheels turning and show they could mix it with top flight oppo.

United started the stronger but seemed to struggle to pull the trigger when getting into positions near the box, with most attacks ending in a hearty block from a defender or a run down a blind alley. This was duly and surprisingly punished when the excellent Steur slightly misjudged a tackle on 20 minutes. It was a foul, but the tone was set for the evening as the WBA player overacted terribly and antagonistic referee Bobby Madley showed Steur an unnecessary yellow. Jaouen did not cover himself in glory when allowing Price’s low free kick to squirm in the bottom corner.

The Baggies faithful up a height were clearly delighted but their repertoire was one of the most boring I’ve heard in a while. These early cup games can feel like a necessary evil and often come with a relatively flat atmosphere. I actually thought there were some decent efforts from SJP tonight to keep things going (helped by the positioning of a new singing section near the away fans) but we still had to endures “no noise from the Geordie boys” and its variants. I suppose it’s the nature of these things but I expect they’ll blow the roof off the Hawthorns if they get promoted and face a lower league side at this point next season.

Anyway, they were quietened ahead of the break. Steur turned into space stylishly and released the impressive Dedic, whose whipped cross found its way into the net. I’m pretty sure Baz Toure touched it in and he’s been given the goal, but the touch of the defender in front definitely redirected it first.

Five minutes after his debut goal, Toure found himself on the end of a half-time withdrawal, but it was to be a pivotal one. Harvey Barnes’ willingness to shoot has been a useful tool in the armoury for some time and he still looks the most likely source of goals whenever he’s on the field. He had been on for approximately three minutes when he opened his season’s account. A corner routine was unexpectedly fizzed to Barnes at the edge of the box. He let fly and the shot was blocked but created havoc as Thiaw tried to force it over the line. Barnes somehow managed to run past everyone else in the box to get the follow up on his own shot, rifling in for 2-1.

This set the tone for a much better second half for United as the slick confident play of Sunday returned. Woltemade settled into the game a bit and Dedic continued to display his attacking flair – if all Jaissle’s old mates are like this he could build a hell of a team here. A triple substitution saw Joe Willock once again drop heavy hints that he is soon to depart, walking the Gallowgate and waving to warm applause and cheers.

Possibly the pre-match reveal of Nico Gonzalez was a factor that was necessary before Willock’s move can be completed, and we’ll see movement in the days ahead. He has looked sharp so far, although should have added another goal tonight, blazing high and wide from close range.

It all seemed academic as Newcastle were cruising home. Then an unpleasant bit of déjà vu as Lewis Hall again conceded a late penalty to make it 2-2. This was a handball that the visiting fans screamed for to a man. Hall however, seemed incandescent and spent the rest of the match at odds with the official in protest at this call. Price rolled in his second of the game and we worried about pens.

United absolutely tore at them to ensure this didn’t happen. Hall fired a shot born of pure rage that clashed back off the post, then Wissa latched onto a ball only to smash it well over from close in. Pressure was telling and it was to be Barnes again with the decisive goal, a mere four minutes after Albion’s leveller. Woltemade’s neat footwork released Elanga into space and he tore down the wing before finding that man Dedic again, who supplied a fine cross for Barnes to knock in first time.

Surely West Brom would take their solid performance and reduced fixture list and start to focus on Boro now? Not if Bobby Madley had anything to do with it. I refuse to believe he wasn’t winding up the crowd as he gave WBA a series of soft free-kicks, one of which saw Jaouen produce a redemptive save at full stretch. When Elanga was similarly bundled over as he tried to run down the final minute, it was wilfully ignored in similar fashion to an earlier clip from behind that Woltemade had just had to put up with, despite it being in the penalty box. Shocking stuff and we need to be requesting he doesn’t meet us again, not that he should be refereeing at all these days.

Anyway, the whistle finally went and we can now look forward to the joys of Millwall. I may very well be in the London area on the likely night of this game and was considering a solo bimble were we to get one of the capital’s teams. Some have suggested that this might not be my greatest ever idea but let’s see what happens eh…

Our Carabao love affair continues. It’s not as good for you as Knox Hydrate but it’s definitely been a cup that cheers.

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