Newcastle into Carabao Cup semi-finals as Dan Burn sparks win over Leicester

It has been a lengthy, frustrating and sometimes downright painful wait but Newcastle have reached their first domestic semi-final for 18 years.

As the crowd waved black and white flags to celebrate the goals from Dan Burn and Joelinton that deservedly swept Eddie Howe’s side into the Carabao Cup’s final four, Brendan Rodgers was a study in dejection. Leicester’s manager has warned his club’s increasingly mutinous fans he is not a magician and his injury-hit team were made to look distinctly mortal by a Newcastle XI for whom almost anything feels possible this season. Much more of this and Gallowgate Enders will be convinced Howe really can walk on the Tyne.

The game had barely begun before Miguel Almirón’s blistering, zigzagging advance from deep left Leicester’s defenders rocking on their heels. When Almirón played in the impressive Joe Willock, the midfielder’s cross was good but Sean Longstaff could not quite polish things off and, much to Danny Ward’s relief, miscued his side-foot from eight yards, shooting scruffily into the ground before watching the ball spin harmlessly high and wide.

As a litany of chances and half-chances came and went, and as Leicester retreated ever deeper into their own half it became all too easy to see how Newcastle won 3-0 at the King Power Stadium in the Premier League on Boxing Day. Not to mention precisely why the visitors are in relegation form, while Howe’s players pursue a Champions League place.

Almirón’s enthusiasm for reaching the Carabao Cup semi finals was evident as, burning off the forlornly pursuing Wout Faes, the Paraguayan conjured a shooting chance for Callum Wilson. That was blocked but twice in the first half Ward had to make saves from Bruno Guimarães.

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