LEWIS MILEY spared Eddie Howe from the week of hell as his late winner provided the perfect tonic for Newcastle’s derby hangover.
The 19-year-old headed home Sandro Tonali’s corner deep in injury-time to down Fulham and send the holders into the semis.
Yoane Wissa, on his first start after a knee injury robbed him of the first three months of his Newcastle career after his £50m signing from Brentford, gave Howe’s men the dream start.
But Fulham, looking to reach the semi-final for a second time in three seasons, threatened to poop the party as Sasa Lukic hit back fast.
But Stanley-born stallion Miley, playing as makeshift right-back, proved to be the toast of the Tyne to spark more dreams of Wembley glory.
Newcastle, languishing 12th in both the Premier League and Champions League tables, desperately needed the cup to inject some fizz back into them after Sunday’s feeble loss.
Howe, with only three fit senior defenders at his disposal after Lewis Hall was ruled out with a minor hamstring issue, deployed midfielder Lewis Miley as makeshift right-back and made six changes from the Wearside nightmare.
The DJ tried his best to play his part too. After a recent controversial change, the famed Local Hero anthem returned over the PA to greet the players on to the pitch. And just when Newcastle needed one, they got it after just nine minutes.
Fabian Schar’s long diagonal sent Jacob Murphy clear down the right. The recalled winger hit it first time low into the centre, outstretched keeper Benjamin Lecomte could only parry it straight to Wissa, and the DR Congo forward snapped up his early Christmas present to get off the mark in Black and White.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
It was just the start Howe would have wished for. But the season of goodwill quickly came to an end.
That was Toon’s first real attack, with Fulham doing all of the early pressing. And they hit back in almost identical fashion.
Joachim Andersen floated a pass out the left as Murphy was caught sleeping and Antonee Robinson raced to meet it. A sea of green flooded the box as Newcastle’s midfield trio of Jacob Ramsey, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock stood and watched him cross for Lukic to head home from 12 yards.
Things almost instantly got worse as the visitors charged forward again like a knife through butter, only this time Kevin shot straight at Aaron Ramsdale.
This was not the response to the Sunderland embarrassment Howe had demanded. Fulham were looking dangerous with every attack while Toon’s midfielders continued to drop like strays avoiding the dog warden.
Finally, the increasingly frustrated Toon Army got some of the fight lacking against the Black Cats.
Ramsey, a huge disappointment since his £40m arrival from Aston Villa in August, won a crunching tackle on Lukic in the middle as the hosts pounced and piled forward.
But skipper Guimaraes, who labelled the team’s performance at Sunderland “embarrassing” and a “mess”, made the latter of the opportunity and lashed over from 20 yards.
Another roar went up when Ramsey’s tackle stopped Raul Jimenez from countering. It was the springboard for another attack, but Lecomte parried away Guimaraes’ effort.
The Mags’ wings were beginning to spread. Jorge Cuenca’s desperate lunge prevented Wissa from tapping home another quick Murphy cross with the tide now turned. But Sander Berge blocked another attempt from Murphy and it remained on a knife-edge come the break.
Barnes forced Lecomte into a low stop following the restart as the pressure continued, and bums were off seats again when 34-year-old Frenchmen got down low to meet Tino Livramento’s shot.
Nick Woltemade, roared on by the locals despite his own goal at Sunderland, replaced Wissa with twenty left as Howe tried another throw of the dice before he suffered another defensive blow when Livramento limped off and 21-year-old Alex Murphy entered the fray.
But those worries were for later, Howe had a cup to defend. On came Gordon for the shootout but the heroic Miley spared everyone from that drama to fire the Mags into the last four.
