Southampton 0-1 Newcastle United: Joelinton strike enough for first leg win as Duje Caleta-Car sees red

A winner from Joelinton against Southampton helped Newcastle put one foot in the League Cup final.

The game started with a brilliant tempo, with both sides looking to play on the front foot. Newcastle had their first big chance inside three minutes, Miguel Almiron did brilliantly on the counter attack to switch it to Joe Willock who could only blaze his effort high and wide.

The game continued to go from end to end, with both sides just missing that last bit of quality in the final third.

After 33 minutes, Newcastle had another big chance, this time it was Kieran Trippier who was able to pick out Willock at the back post but once again Willock fired his effort over the bar.

Five minutes before half time, Joelinton had a goal ruled out in controversial circumstances. The referee initially ruled the goal out for handball and after a less than conclusive VAR check that struggled to show whether it hit Joelinton’s arm or chest, the officials opted to go with the original on-field decision.

Substitute Che Adams spurned a huge chance to put Southampton 1-0 up on 65 minutes, the Scotland international was slipped through into a one-v-one situation but saw his effort saved by the imperious Nick Pope.

Newcastle found the breakthrough after 75 minutes, at a time when Southampton were really coming into the game. After missing a big chance and having a goal ruled out in the first half, Joelinton made sure this one counted as he burst into the box before rifling home Alexander Isak’s cross from close range.

There was more VAR drama just two minutes later as former Newcastle man Adam Armstrong scored what he thought was his sides equaliser, the goal however was later chalked off for handball.

Things went from bad to worse for Southampton five minutes from time as Duje Caleta-Car was sent off for bringing Allan Saint-Maximin down as the Frenchman headed towards goal.

Eddie Howe’s side managed to see out the victory and head back to the North East with a slender advantage ahead of the second leg next week.

TALKING POINT – CLEAN SHEET KINGS

Another match, another clean sheet – this is becoming quite the theme for Newcastle United. Eddie Howe’s side have now gone four consecutive matches without conceding a single goal. Since returning from the World Cup, Newcastle have played eight matches across all competitions and conceded in just one of them (2-1 v Sheffield Wednesday, FA Cup). Nick Pope, who didn’t play in the Sheffield Wednesday match, has now kept 10 clean sheets in a row and is playing like a man full of confidence as a result of his recent form. In the one-v-one with Che Adams, the Southampton striker simply did not look confident of beating the imperious Pope, whereas the goalkeeper stood firm with a belief that he simply couldn’t be beaten. It is simply extraordinary what Newcastle are doing defensively this season and despite a few close shaves tonight, they head back to the North East with yet another clean sheet.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – BRUNO GUIMARAES

Newcastle’s talisman was once again superb for his side. The midfielder stamps his authority all over the game when he plays and tonight was no different. On the ball he was dynamic, looking to make clever passes and get Newcastle into the final third. Without the ball he played with the type of industry the Newcastle fans love – including sprinting back into the box to put in a vital challenge on Sekou Mara. Another exemplary display from the Brazilian diamond.

PLAYER RATINGS

SOUTHAMPTON: Bazunu 6, Walker-Peters 7, Lyanco 7, Caleta-Car 6, Salisu 8, Alcaraz 7, Diallo 7, Djenepo 6, Ward-Prowse 6, Orsic 6, Mara 7

SUBS: Adams 6, Armstrong 7, Edozie 7, Lavia 6, Bednarek N/A

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Pope 8, Burn 7, Botman 7, Schar 7, Trippier 8, Willock 6, Guimaraes 9, Longstaff 7, Almiron 7, Wilson 6, Joelinton 8

SUBS: Murphy 6, Isak 7, Saint-Maximin 7

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

33′ BIG CHANCE – Superb play from Almiron and Trippier, Almiron plays in Trippier who whips in a ball to the back post for Willock but once again he skies his effort well over. He should be doing better there.

39′ NO GOAL! – Joelinton has the ball in the back of the net but it’s been ruled out! It looks to have been ruled out for handball. It will go to VAR.

53′ MISS! – Almiron does brilliantly down the right before hooking a ball across the face of the goal, it falls to Joelinton where it looked harder to miss but he’s fired it well over the bar from six yards out.

64′ HUGE CHANCE! – That is the best chance of the game for Southampton so far! Che Adams is released and goes 1v1 but Nick Pope saves it! Southampton could struggle to have a better chance than that!

73′ GOAL – NEWCASTLE UNITED Newcastle find the breakthrough! Alexander Isak fires a ball across the face of goal and Joelinton is on hand to fire it home. Superb movement and desire from Joelinton to get up with play and get his goal.

77′ NO GOAL – HANDBALL – Adam Armstrong is denied a goal against his former club as it’s been ruled out for handball.

86′ RED CARD – SOUTHAMPTON – Caleta-Car is sent off for bringing down Saint-Maximin.

KEY STAT

Nick Pope has kept 10 clean sheets in a row (901 minutes).

More to follow…