Eddie Howe spoke of his “aid” as Newcastle edged previous Blackburn in a penalty shootout to achieve the quarter-finals of the FA Cup – a contest the Magpies boss says they’re “determined” to win.
Martin Dubravka was Newcastle’s hero at Ewood Park, pushing Dominic Hyam’s penalty on to the publish after additionally saving from Sammie Szmodics, who had earlier scored in regular time.
Harvey Barnes missed his spot-kick for the Premier League facet, however Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes, Elliot Anderson and Anthony Gordon scored their makes an attempt to take them by way of after a thriller.
“There is just one emotion and that’s aid,” stated Howe. “It was a hard-fought cup tie. Either side gave every little thing to get the win and did not give an inch, however we’re delighted to be within the hat for the following spherical.
“No-one is under-estimating the significance of the FA Cup so the gamers are very completely happy.
“This retains us in a contest we’re determined to do properly in and likewise will get us nearer to Wembley. We’re one sport away so hopefully we are able to get draw.
“Our goal this yr is the FA Cup and to complete as excessive as attainable within the Premier League, and that is hopefully pivotal in direction of that.”
Gordon had put Newcastle forward within the 71st minute with a first-time end after a vibrant run from substitute Miguel Almiron down the precise wing. It got here simply after Gordon had been denied by Rovers goalkeeper Aynsley Pears when by way of on purpose.
However Blackburn, sixteenth within the second tier, have been solely behind for eight minutes.
Szmodics grabbed his twenty fourth purpose of the season in all competitions, reacting quickest to transform the rebound after Dubravka had acrobatically touched Dilan Markanday’s shot on to the underside of the crossbar.
Rovers almost gained it within the third minute of injury-time, however Yasin Ayari’s strike was blocked by Dubravka’s legs to take the tie to additional time.
Schar, Gordon, Sean Longstaff, Dan Burn and Guimaraes additionally missed good possibilities for the guests, with Szmodics having one other effort saved in a breathless extra-time interval, earlier than the tie was settled by spot-kicks.
The draw for the quarter-finals takes place at 19:00 GMT on Wednesday, earlier than Chelsea’s house assembly with Leeds on ITV4, with the ties performed over the weekend of 16 March.
Dubravka heroics give Newcastle new ‘hope’
The ending was harsh on Rovers captain Hyam and fellow defender Scott Wharton, who had been named participant of the match after an excellent efficiency that included a implausible goalline block in additional time to disclaim Guimaraes.
The penalties came about in entrance of Newcastle’s travelling followers, with 7,430 of them attending to create an excellent environment. The group of twenty-two,730 was the best for a Blackburn match at Ewood Park since 27,600 witnessed a League One promotion social gathering towards Oxford United on 5 Might, 2018.
And the followers have been handled to a traditional cup-tie, with a crackling environment in Lancashire.
The outcome meant Newcastle might nonetheless salvage one thing from a season that promised a lot, however has seen a string of disappointments.
Earlier than the sport, Howe stated the marketing campaign might “nonetheless be very particular”.
The Magpies got here fourth within the Premier League final yr to qualify for the Champions League for the primary time after a 20-year absence, however are down in tenth with a top-four spot seemingly past them.
European soccer for 2024-25 stays a hope, albeit with the Europa League and Europa Convention League thought-about extra viable targets.
Former Blackburn and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, talking on BBC One, referred to as the victory a “large, large win” for Howe and his gamers.
“Newcastle owe Martin Dubravka loads, he is made plenty of good saves and he made two saves within the shootout,” stated Shearer. “They owe him an enormous debt. They’re within the subsequent spherical due to him.
“It’s a large outcome for Newcastle and Eddie Howe. They wanted this. It is fairly worrying that it did not appear to be that they had power, however which may galvanise them and provides them a little bit of hope.”
Newcastle are actually within the final eight of the FA Cup, with the competitors’s winners incomes a spot within the Europa League, whereas additionally they purpose to win their first main trophy since 1969.
However they have been pushed all the best way by their opponents, who’re solely 4 factors above the Championship relegation zone.
![Sammy Szmodics scores for Blackburn](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/D2C3/production/_132755935_szmodics_reuters.png)
Boss John Eustace was solely appointed in February, after Jon Dahl Tomasson resigned, and had urged his facet to play with freedom and revel in their expertise.
He was to not be dissatisfied as Rovers have been the higher facet within the first half, with Szmodics impressing all through.
However Dubravka stood agency, denying Szmodics and Hyam when it mattered most, as Newcastle scraped by way of.
Dwelling followers protest towards house owners
After 14 minutes of the match, there was a quick stoppage as between 15-20 tennis balls have been thrown on to the pitch from followers within the nook of the Ronnie Clayton Blackburn Finish – the top Rovers have been defending within the first half.
“We wish Venky’s out,” was the mantra from some house followers as they vented their anger on the membership’s house owners.
There have been related protests utilizing tennis balls in lots of Bundesliga matches lately, with followers protesting towards an funding proposal by the German Soccer Affiliation, which has since been dropped in Germany.
Whereas the Bundesliga protests usually pressured a delay of about 10 minutes and groups typically left the pitch, the tennis balls have been rapidly cleared at Ewood Park.
Former Blackburn midfielder Danny Murphy, talking on BBC One, felt it confirmed the membership nonetheless needed to resolve their off-field points. He stated: “We had 5 managers in a single season and there was discontent then.
“The fact is that there has not been any stability for this membership. It’s a nice membership as properly. Nonetheless plenty of nice folks nonetheless right here. It ought to be doing higher.”
Participant of the match
SzmodicsSammie Szmodics
Blackburn Rovers
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Squad quantity8Participant identifySzmodics
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Squad quantity24Participant identifyMoran
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Squad quantity10Participant identifyDolan
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Squad quantity2Participant identifyBrittain
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Squad quantity55Participant identifyMcFadzean
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Squad quantity44Participant identifyAyari
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Squad quantity16Participant identifyS Wharton
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Squad quantity5Participant identifyHyam
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Squad quantity18Participant identifyMarkanday
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Squad quantity21Participant identifyBuckley
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Squad quantity1Participant identifyPears
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Squad quantity14Participant identifyKoumetio
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Squad quantity45Participant identifyChrisene
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Squad quantity9Participant identifyGallagher
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Squad quantity30Participant identifyGarrett
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Squad quantity7Participant identifySigurdsson
Newcastle United
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Squad quantity1Participant identifyDúbravka
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Squad quantity10Participant identifyGordon
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Squad quantity24Participant identifyAlmirón
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Squad quantity32Participant identifyAnderson
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Squad quantity39Participant identifyBruno Guimarães
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Squad quantity21Participant identifyLivramento
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Squad quantity5Participant identifySchär
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Squad quantity33Participant identifyBurn
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Squad quantity67Participant identifyMiley
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Squad quantity28Participant identifyWillock
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Squad quantity14Participant identifyIsak
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Squad quantity23Participant identifyMurphy
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Squad quantity2Participant identifyTrippier
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Squad quantity6Participant identifyLascelles
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Squad quantity15Participant identifyBarnes
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Squad quantity36Participant identifyS Longstaff
Line-ups
Blackburn
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Pears
- 5Hyam
- 55McFadzeanSubstituted forKoumetioat 72′minutes
- 16S Wharton
- 2Brittain
- 21BuckleySubstituted forGarrettat 64′minutes
- 24MoranBooked at 18minsSubstituted forAyariat 63′minutesBooked at 118mins
- 45ChriseneBooked at 110mins
- 10DolanSubstituted forMarkandayat 64′minutes
- 9GallagherSubstituted forSigurdssonat 45′minutes
- 8Szmodics
Substitutes
- 3Pickering
- 7Sigurdsson
- 12Wahlstedt
- 14Koumetio
- 18Markanday
- 30Garrett
- 33Telalovic
- 42Finneran
- 44Ayari
Newcastle
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Dúbravka
- 2TrippierSubstituted forLivramentoat 90′minutes
- 6LascellesBooked at 103mins
- 5Schär
- 33Burn
- 36S LongstaffBooked at 120mins
- 39Bruno Guimarães
- 28WillockSubstituted forMileyat 62′minutesSubstituted forAndersonat 116′minutes
- 23MurphySubstituted forAlmirónat 62′minutes
- 14IsakSubstituted forBarnesat 62′minutes
- 10Gordon
Substitutes
- 11Ritchie
- 15Barnes
- 17Krafth
- 18Karius
- 20Corridor
- 21Livramento
- 24Almirón
- 32Anderson
- 67Miley
- Referee:
- Jarred Gillett
- Attendance:
- 22,730
Dwell Textual content
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Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1(3), Newcastle United 1(4).
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Penalty Shootout ends, Blackburn Rovers 1(3), Newcastle United 1(4).
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Penalty saved. Dominic Hyam (Blackburn Rovers) proper footed shot saved within the backside left nook.
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Aim! Blackburn Rovers 1(3), Newcastle United 1(4). Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the centre of the purpose.
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Aim! Blackburn Rovers 1(3), Newcastle United 1(3). Yasin Ayari (Blackburn Rovers) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the centre of the purpose.
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Aim! Blackburn Rovers 1(2), Newcastle United 1(3). Elliot Anderson (Newcastle United) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside left nook.
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Aim! Blackburn Rovers 1(2), Newcastle United 1(2). Arnór Sigurdsson (Blackburn Rovers) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside left nook.
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Aim! Blackburn Rovers 1(1), Newcastle United 1(2). Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the centre of the purpose.
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Aim! Blackburn Rovers 1(1), Newcastle United 1(1). Callum Brittain (Blackburn Rovers) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside left nook.
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Penalty saved. Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United) proper footed shot saved within the backside proper nook.
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Penalty saved. Sammie Szmodics (Blackburn Rovers) proper footed shot saved within the backside left nook.
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Aim! Blackburn Rovers 1, Newcastle United 1(1). Fabian Schär (Newcastle United) converts the penalty with a proper footed shot to the underside proper nook.
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Penalty Shootout begins Blackburn Rovers 1, Newcastle United 1.
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Second Half Additional Time ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Newcastle United 1.
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Tino Livramento (Newcastle United) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Foul by Scott Wharton (Blackburn Rovers).
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Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United) is proven the yellow card for a nasty foul.
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Foul by Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United).
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Ben Chrisene (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Offside, Blackburn Rovers. Sammie Szmodics is caught offside.