Newcastle are back in the Carabao Cup semifinals because they’ve learned how to play this kind of competition. The win over Fulham at St. James’ Park wasn’t clean, simple or comfortable, and maybe that’s exactly why it says so much about where the club is under Eddie Howe. In four seasons, this is the third time the Magpies have reached the final four of the tournament, a stat that on its own knocks down any idea of luck. Newcastle stopped stumbling when the pressure rises and started understanding that cup games are decided more by the mind than by the foot.
The match against Fulham was a clear snapshot of that. It began at a fast pace, brought an early lead, slipped out of control for a few minutes and ended with real tension. Yoane Wissa, newly arrived and starting the match, opened the scoring in the 11th minute, but Fulham’s response was immediate. Saša Lukić popped up unmarked to head home the equalizer, reminding Newcastle that nothing would be handed to them that night.
Even with major changes to the starting lineup, six compared to the Premier League loss to Sunderland, Newcastle stuck to their plan. The goal didn’t come, and that’s usually the kind of detail that turns control into frustration.
Eddie Howe and an obsession with detail
Eddie Howe has never treated the Carabao Cup as a side act. His words help explain why. For him, Newcastle’s consistent runs have less to do with the draw and more with behavior. “I think the players are always the key,” the manager said while explaining the club’s performances in the tournament. Howe often stresses that surviving the early rounds sets the tone for everything that follows, because those matches, home or away, are tricky and test focus and maturity.
That mindset showed on the field. Against Fulham, the second half was tight, featured a disallowed goal, forced substitutions and a rhythm that took time to settle. Tonali came on to bring more control, Gordon and Elanga added fresh legs out wide, and Newcastle began to spend more time around the opposition box. Still, the draw refused to budge.
Miley shows up when the game calls for courage
When the clock started to weigh heavy, Lewis Miley stepped in. Before that, the youngster had already been denied by a brilliant save from Lecomte in stoppage time. From the resulting corner, he didn’t miss. He rose above everyone else and decided a matchup that was drifting dangerously toward penalties. A goal that speaks volumes about confidence, timing and personality.
Moments like that help explain why Newcastle, who before 2021 had rarely made it past the quarterfinals of the competition, now feel comfortable in this environment. Under Howe, the club has missed out on the semifinals only once, in last season’s penalty shootout loss to Chelsea.