Newcastle Spank Brentford 3-1
Manager Eddie Howe says Newcastle are finally “starting to see the best” of Sandro Tonali as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory over Brentford at St James’ Park.
His first came with an unerring 20-yard drive after Tino Livramento’s cross was only partially cleared and the former AC Milan player added to his tally with a cushioned side-foot volley from Anthony Gordon’s corner from the right.
Tonali, 24, who returned this season from a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, notably also made a heart gesture to the home supporters as he celebrated his opener – after waking to media reports linking him with a move to Juventus.
“He’s a big signing and you want your big signings to do well and settle quickly,” said Howe.
“He’s been here a while, but has had very little football. Nights like tonight will build connections with him and the supporters even stronger, I’m just really pleased for him on a personal level.
“It was great to see Sandro score the two that he did. We are starting to see the best of him.”
Operating in a slightly deeper role, Tonali, who joined Newcastle for £55m in the summer of 2023, played the role of orchestrator for much of Wednesday’s game, with Howe adding: “The tweak in position has definitely helped him, he is a lot more comfortable when he is deeper on the pitch.
“He is showing all the qualities that we knew when we signed him. It is just about finding the right balance for him and the team.”
The hosts added their third when captain Bruno Guimaraes laid on a tap-in for Fabian Schar to put the gloss on a much-deserved win.
It proved a disappointing evening for Brentford, who mustered just two shots on target until Yoane Wissa prodded in a late consolation in added time.
Prior to that Newcastle had twice struck the woodwork as Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak, Gordon and substitute Harvey Barnes all failed to convert good opportunities to inflict even more punishment on their lacklustre opponents.
Thomas Frank’s team were not helped by losing Sepp van den Berg in the warm-up and then seeing their captain and fellow centre-back Ethan Pinnock limp off inside 15 minutes.
However, the Dane will still likely be dissatisfied by the manner of their defeat, with his side barely offering any resistance as their woeful record on their travels continued.
The semi-final draw will take place on Thursday, after Tottenham’s quarter-final tie with Manchester United (20:00 GMT) concludes.
Brentford defeated Newcastle less than two weeks ago in the Premier League – that fixture was played at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Away from their London home the Bees have now lost eight of their nine matches against top-flight opposition this season.
Frank made five alterations to the side that started their narrow defeat by Chelsea on Sunday, with their third game in seven days coming on Saturday when they host high-flying Nottingham Forest.
And it told, his side lacking fluency and conviction throughout, with top goalscorer Bryan Mbeumo, the source of Wissa’s goal, introduced from the bench just after the hour mark.
In contrast, expectations on Tyneside are only likely to soar after this performance – with Magpies supporters daring to dream again of ending their long trophy drought.
By the time of the EFL Cup final in March it will be seven decades since they last lifted domestic silverware in the FA Cup in 1955, with the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969 their only major honour in the intervening period.
In Howe though, they have a manager who has helped transform the club from relegation candidates to Champions League qualifiers in 2022-23.
And the Englishman now becomes the first Newcastle boss since Sir Bobby Robson to reach two semi-finals, and the first since Stan Seymour, in the 1950s, to do it in two domestic competitions.
