Newcastle United did the business on home soil but it was a shock on the south coast which has led to the Wembley dream growing stronger. Southampton produced a superb display to stun the favourites Manchester City and throw this year's Carabao Cup wide open.
Pep Guardiola's side have tasted League Cup success in four of the last five seasons, and were the biggest obstacles to Newcastle's unlikely trophy tilt. The social media reaction on Tyneside to the result at St Mary's and subsequent draw bordered on overconfidence in places, but there is no doubt a path to a first cup final in more than two decades has opened up.
Instead of facing the defending Premier League champions or top-four rivals Manchester United, the Magpies must beat rock-bottom Southampton over two legs for a place at Wembley. Having enjoyed three consecutive home draws, Howe's side will next enjoy the advantage of hosting the crucial second leg.
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If that was not enough, Newcastle will also enjoy the rare luxury of a free weekend in between their most important matches of their seasons. The dismal defeat at Hillsborough means the Magpies will not be in action on either January 28 or 29, while Southampton host Blackpool in a fourth-round tie.
The dates for both legs have not yet been confirmed, but this means Howe's side will have at least the best part of a week to rest and prepare for the St James' Park showdown. For a head coach who revels in the opportunity to work with his squad in the training ground, it is an unexpected boon to emerge from an otherwise congested schedule.
Come the end of the season when hopefully reviewing a season where Newcastle finally end their 68-year wait for a major domestic trophy, this turn of events could cast a new light on the dismal defeat at Hillsborough. Much of the talk following the 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday centered on the lack of the strength in depth at the head coach's disposal.
Howe admitted the Carabao Cup quarter-final tie with Leicester City forced him to make eight changes due to his 'small squad'. Unfortunately though for the Magpies boss, this opportunity to impress led to 'huge' disappointment as his side bowed out of the FA Cup third round to lower-league opponents for the second year running.
Speaking in the aftermath, Howe told reporters: "We haven't lost for a long time and I've been in the game too long to ever get complacent with that. I know how football works.
"In some senses, for some of our players, it might be a good thing long-term that we have felt that feeling again and it motivates me every day to not feel it again very soon."
The setback of suffering only a second defeat of the season was quickly shrugged off three days' later as Newcastle outplayed Leicester to advance to the final four. Victory over the Foxes means in less than a fortnight's time, United will return to the scene of a 4-1 triumph in November.
Goals from Miguel Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Chris Wood eased the visitors to victory over Southampton and register a fourth straight win. The result lifted Newcastle up to third in the table, but Kieran Trippier could not hide his disappointment at the performance despite the scoreline.
He told Sky Sports: "It sounds good but we're frustated in the way we played today. We played nowhere near our best.
"We all know that, the manager said that at half-time but the most important thing is the win. We move one step closer now."
Two months later, Nathan Jones has replaced Ralph Hassenhuttl at the helm and the Saints have just produced their best performance of the season to knock City out. Nothing is given and Newcastle will likely have to perform better than they did on their last visit to St Mary's, but there is no doubt Howe's side have been given a golden opportunity to reach a major final way ahead of schedule.
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