Holders Newcastle march past Spurs and into Carabao Cup quarter-finals

FAB: Newcastle United's Fabian Schar celebrates scoring their side's first goal. Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire.

Newcastle 2 Tottenham 0

GEORDIE royalty was out in force to see Newcastle progress as their Carabao Cup love-in gathered pace.

Sting sat shoulder to shoulder with his pal Alan Shearer in another St James' Park full house to witness for himself 'every step' Eddie Howe's side are taking towards a latest Wembley return.

Nick Woltemade is more heavy rock than dad rock but the German added to his growing reputation here with a fifth goal in seven games early in the second half to double his new side's advantage as they inflicted a first away defeat of the campaign on a strangely off-key Spurs.

Thomas Frank made half the number of changes as Howe's eight, but the visitors struggled to get into a contest which Newcastle were largely in control of once Fabian Schar headed home Sandro Tonali's 24th minute corner after Djed Spence cost his side dearly due to his inability to tie his boot laces.

Given the number of respective changes, Tottenham arguably treated the competition with twice the respect of their hosts, who kicked-off a third home game in a third different competition in nine days.

Newcastle were on the front foot from the off and Tonali’s early free-kick into the box was headed back across goal by Malick Thiaw before the ball was half cleared to Joe Willock, whose fierce drive was well blocked by Joao Palhinha.

Harvey Barnes should have broken the deadlock when he was released into the box by Woltemade, but his shot lacked direction and struck the side-netting. The winger wasted an even better chance before half-time when his close range volley grazed the bar when it looked easier to score.

The pressure eventually told 20 minutes before the interval when from a corner needlessly conceded by the visitors, Schar headed emphatically home from Tonali's inviting delivery.

Spurs protested that Spence wasn't allowed back into position before the set-piece was taken, after the defender had taken an eternity to put his boot back on and tie his lace by the touchline.

Tottenham's ire should have been directed towards their day-dreaming full-back, not referee Chris Kavanagh who had righly lost patience with the dallying defender who seemed to have lost track of time.

It was a costly lapse because Newcastle make impressive front runners on home soil Stung into action by the perceived injustice, Spurs should have levelled just after the half hour.

Lucas Bergvall engineered space down to send a low ball across Newcastle's six yard area, but an unmarked Richarlison wasn't on the same wavelength and a presentable chance went begging.

Newcastle should have doubled their lead with 90 seconds of the re-start when Barnes cut in from the left to deliver a perfect centre which Joe Willock should have scored from, but the unmarked midfielder's weak header barely threatened Antonin Kinsky's goal.

Woltemade showed his tema-mate how to do it shortly afterwards, the towering forward using all his frame to beat a flapping Kinsky to Willock's stood-up cross to head the second after 50 minutes. From that point on it was game over as Newcastle marched into the last eight in their bid to repeat their heroics of last season, much to the approval of their high-profile fans up in the stands.

Newcastle (4-3-3): Ramsdale 7; Krafth 7 (Trippier 71, 6), Thiaw 8, Schar 8, Burn 7; Tonali 7, Willock 6 (Joelinton 71, 6), Ramsey 6 (Guimaraes 80, 6); Elanga 6 (Gordon 89, 6), Woltemade 8 (Osula 71, 6), Barnes 7.

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Kinsky 5; Porro 5, Danso 5, Palhinha 6, Spence 3; Bentancur 4 (Muani 65, 6), Sarr 5; Johnson 4 (Kudus 65, 6), Bergvall 6, Xavi 5; Richarlison 5 (Tel 79, 5).

Referee: Chris Kavanagh.