Newcastle United secured a thrilling 2-1 victory against Fulham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, thanks to a late header from Lewis Miley. The game took place on December 20th at St. James’ Park. Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe was happy with his side’s display despite being given a tough test by Fulham.
Yoane Wissa opened the scoring for Newcastle, getting on the scintillating counter attack. His goal set off a tsunami of hope and good cheer among the home supporters. Despite this, the game was very competitive the entire match, with Fulham being able to consistently put the Newcastle defense on their heels. Miley’s late stoppage time winner stamped the victory and sent Newcastle through to the semi-finals.
Match Overview
Newcastle had an incredibly tough task against Fulham, rosters aside, both teams came out fighting. Wissa’s opener was a huge sigh of relief and punctuated what became a very one-sided affair. Howe lauded Wissa’s play, calling it a “brilliant moment” for the player who made the most of his opportunity.
“Really positive night in lots of different ways. Yoane getting his goal is a brilliant moment for him, especially so early in the game, and he took it superbly. He’ll only get better for the match minutes.” – Eddie Howe
In a game that was mostly dominated by Newcastle, Fulham was still a threat. Howe didn’t take anything away from their quality, saying that his team’s grit and grind earned them the victory they needed.
“That was a tough game, it was always going to be today [after Sunderland defeat]. We’re back on home soil. I thought we controlled the game. Fulham are a good team, they had their moments, but I thought we deserved to win.” – Eddie Howe
Upcoming Fixtures
Moving forward, Newcastle’s slate is loaded with six-pointers. Next up will be Crystal Palace at home on January 4, then Leeds at home on January 7. On January 10th, the club will welcome Bournemouth in a thrilling friendly encounter. First, in the week of January 12, they’ll have a rematch against Man City.
The hectic January fixture list rolls on as Newcastle host Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 18th. After that, they shall take on PSV Eindhoven on January 21 before battling Aston Villa on January 25. The month closes with a titanic clash against PSG away on January 28. Then, they’ll take on Liverpool just three days later on January 31st.
Newcastle and Man City will meet again in early February, the week of February 2. This match will be the start of an extremely challenging run of fixtures that could have dramatic consequences on their season.
Reflections from Eddie Howe
Howe reflected on the team’s performance against Fulham, noting that it was not just a matter of skill but resilience. He pointed out that nights like this are the ones that build confidence in players and allow them to test their limits.
“He believes he’s more than good enough to play at this level, and not just play, but excel. And I think we’re seeing that now. I think he’s taking his game to another level, and nights like tonight will only help him.” – Eddie Howe
Howe has worries about squad depth with injuries still prevalent. As he noted, the clock is ticking and the time is of the essence. The indispensable players are the ones most conspicuously absent.
“No [news], but it doesn’t look good. The fact that he came off is a worrying sign. We’re so stretched in that area, that would be a huge blow.” – Eddie Howe
Newcastle’s recent performance has showcased their potential and determination. The squad has a very busy fixture list with so many games both in league and European action. In order to realize their ambitious dreams, they need to keep this momentum going.
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