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Ciaran Kelly

Newcastle prove Steve Bruce wrong, hero found and James Maddison gets stadium glimpse - 5 things

Newcastle United have reached their first League Cup semi-final in 47 years following a 2-0 win against Leicester City at St James' Park.

Dan Burn, finally, broke the deadlock for the hosts on the hour mark with his first ever goal for the club before Joelinton sealed the quarter-final win with a cool finish in the 72nd minute.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

READ MORE: Newcastle United vs Leicester City highlights

Burn and Joelinton show Newcastle the way

Eddie Howe said his side had to be 'more clinical' after there were 'too many chances not taken' against Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United. Well, it looked like it was going to be one of those nights from the get-go.

In fact. Sean Longstaff had a glorious opportunity to fire Newcastle in front after just 46 seconds but the midfielder blazed over at the back post from Joe Willock's cross. It may have been early in the game, but it was a huge chance. No wonder Howe had his head in his hands on the touchline.

Newcastle continued to push for an opener and, on the quarter-hour mark, Bruno Guimaraes' effort hit the side netting following a lay-off from Joelinton. Longstaff went close once again when Kieran Trippier's free-kick caused havoc in the 30th minute, but the midfielder was denied by Danny Ward when the ball fell to him inside the box. Bruno also could not find a way past Ward before the break when the Leicester 'keeper pushed the Brazil international's effort away.

Dan Burn of Newcastle United (C) celebrates with teammates (Getty Images)

It was a similar story after the break. Joelinton's deflected effort hit the post in the 46th minute; Dan Burn headed over a few minutes later; and Longstaff was denied by Ward again in the 54th minute. However, Newcastle did not let their frustrations get the better of them and Burn and Joelinton showed their team-mates the way with ruthlessly clinical finishes.

A night Dan Burn will never forget

Newcastle failed to find the breakthrough from a whopping 17 shots in the opening 59 minutes until Dan Burn, of all people, stepped up to break the deadlock on the hour mark. The left-back expertly latched onto Joelinton's superb first-time through ball before dancing past two Leicester defenders and slotting the ball into the bottom corner with his weaker foot right in front of the Gallowgate End.

It was the sort of finish the watching Alan Shearer would have been proud of as Burn picked the perfect night to score his first goal for his hometown club. He might not score a more important one. No wonder Burn savoured the moment with a knee slide as supporters chanted: 'He's from Blyth! You will never ever beat Dan Burn!' Newcastle fans have long found a new hero.

James Maddison and Youri Tielemans get glimpse of what could await them

Eddie Howe wanted to see 'real energy' from his side in order to get supporters into the game, but the sold-out crowd were engaged long before a ball was even kicked on Tuesday night. Wor Flags urged supporters to bring their scarves with them in an effort to create a sea of black and white under the lights and they certainly did that.

In fact, thousands of fans twirled their scarves before kick-off in scenes reminiscent of Alan Shearer's testimonial in 2006. It was a special sight and the players looked inspired by it as they walked out to a deafening roar before kick-off.

Newcastle United's Joelinton (left) celebrates scoring their side's second goal against Leicester (PA)

This occasion gave targets James Maddison, who was watching on from afar, and Youri Tielemans a glimpse of just what life at St James' could be like. If this was a Carabao Cup quarter-final, imagine what a European night would be like?

League Cup quarter-final hoodoo is ended

The last time Newcastle won a League Cup quarter-final, in December, 1975, Harold Wilson was Prime Minister; Queen were number one in the charts with Bohemian Rhapsody; and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest had not long been released in cinemas. No wonder this win felt like a big night in the club's recent history as the Magpies finally ended their quarter-final hoodoo after losing all of their previous seven last eight ties in the competition.

This professional performance also banished the ghosts of Brentford once and for all after the black-and-whites previously wasted a glorious opportunity to make it into the last four in 2020 against the Bees' second string, who were playing in the Championship at the time. A brutally honest Steve Bruce feared these players may 'never' get the chance to play in a semi-final again but Joelinton, Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson, who are all survivors from that night, have now proved otherwise as key individuals in this new era.

In truth this is a different club now. Jamaal Lascelles, who had been in this position twice before with Newcastle, said there was a 'different feel about the team and the club as a whole' while Jacob Murphy added 'everything is aligned nicely to give us the belief that we can achieve something'.

Eddie Howe celebrates Newcastle United's Carabao Cup win over Leicester (Newcastle Chronicle)

Ayoze Perez sees club he wanted

Ayoze Perez left Newcastle in 2019 because the Spaniard rightly feared the club would not move onto the next level in the Ashley era following Rafa Benitez's departure. However, this is now a club transformed.

Whereas Newcastle did not take the cups seriously during Perez's time at the club, the Magpies have now reached a first League Cup semi-final in 47 years. It has been a long time since supporters sang: 'Tell me ma, me ma. I won't be home for tea, we're going to Wembley' with such hope.

You can see why Perez was open to returning to Newcastle. Instead, the Leicester forward could only watch on as his former side progressed.

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