Newcastle United advanced to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at St. James’ Park, thanks to headed goals from Fabian Schar and Nick Woltemade.
The home side struck first midway through the opening half when Schar rose unchallenged to nod in Sandro Tonali’s corner, with Lucas Bergvall unable to challenge the Swiss defender in the air. Tottenham players were quick to appeal, insisting Tonali had taken the set piece before Djed Spence had returned to his position after putting his boot back on, but referee Chris Kavanagh allowed the goal to stand.
The holders doubled their lead after the interval through Woltemade, who scored his sixth goal of the campaign by meeting Joe Willock’s lofted cross and steering a header beyond Antonin Kinsky. The Spurs goalkeeper failed to make contact with the ball as he came out to punch it clear.
Pape Sarr nearly halved the deficit immediately afterwards, drawing an athletic stop from Aaron Ramsdale, while Harvey Barnes rattled the crossbar with a spectacular overhead attempt. Newcastle, however, stayed composed to secure a place in the last eight for the fourth consecutive year, setting up a meeting with Fulham.
Manager Eddie Howe praised his side’s approach, saying, “There is no priority — we just want to win and win consistently. The biggest test was whether our mentality would change after making so many adjustments, but the players showed great focus and desire.”
Geordies eye another Wembley trip
Newcastle avoided the fate that has recently befallen several Carabao Cup title holders at this stage of the competition. Manchester City, Liverpool, and Manchester United all exited in the fourth round between 2021 and 2023, but the Magpies looked confident throughout.
Club captain Bruno Guimaraes spoke beforehand about continuing to “create history,” and that ambition was reflected in the performance of a heavily rotated squad. Howe made eight changes from the previous match, yet his blend of established names and summer recruits produced a balanced display.
Six players who featured in last season’s cup-winning run started again, alongside five of the club’s newer additions. By the time Woltemade doubled the advantage, the home supporters were already chanting about a potential return to Wembley for another March final.
Howe expressed satisfaction with the squad’s professionalism, noting that many players had not featured regularly. “We looked strong from the start,” he said. “The energy and commitment were excellent, and it shows how seriously we take this competition.”
Defensive lapses undo Spurs
Tottenham entered the match with one of the Premier League’s best away records, but defensive mistakes cost them a place in the next round. Manager Thomas Frank, who made only four changes from the previous fixture, emphasized his determination to fight for trophies despite a limited squad.
The visitors were undone by two poorly defended aerial situations. During the first goal, several players appealed for a delay while Spence was adjusting his boot instead of marking properly, leaving Schar free to score. The second came when goalkeeper Kinsky misjudged Willock’s cross, allowing Woltemade to beat him to the ball.
Despite spells of possession and Sarr’s near-miss, Spurs struggled to recover. Frank later admitted his side’s defending at key moments had been below their usual standards.
