Newcastle United negotiated their way past plucky Bournemouth to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
For all the attacking quality on show for the Magpies, it took an own goal from Cherries captain Adam Smith to send United into the last eight. However, on a night in which United had 63% possession and conjured up 17 goal attempts, it was hardly undeserved.
True, there was a little rustiness after the five-week break from competitive action due to events in Qatar, but Newcastle are still in with a real shout of making this a special season. After some brilliant victories this season, this one will have meant a lot to Eddie Howe as his team continued their winning habit.
Howe could not have named a stronger side as he recalled all of his World Cup stars. The Magpies won an early free-kick thanks to Sean Longstaff with less than 90 seconds on the clock but the set-play from Kieran Trippier came to nothing down the right and was easily snuffed out by the Cherries.
An injury scare on four minutes saw Fabian Schar require lengthy treatment but the Switzerland defender was deemed fit to continue by the United medical team. Joelinton won a free-kick with 10 minutes gone on the left-hand side as Newcastle tried to make an early impression.
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This time England full-back Trippier tried to go for goal from a tight angle but it was just over the bar at the Gallowgate End. Longstaff was then presented with an unexpected chance on the edge of the box but took the shot on rather hastily and fired it into the crowd.
Bournemouth's early offering came when a free-kick from the left was pumped into the box and Wales striker Kieffer Moore's header was gathered by Nick Pope. It was hardly a clear-cut chance but Pope had to stay alert as the towering 6ft 4in forward underlined his presence in the danger area.
With 20 minutes played Schar got forward and tried his luck from 22-yards or so but his effort flashed wide. Six minutes later the ball was worked to Callum Wilson in the box with the striker applying the finish only for the goal to be disallowed for a late offside.
Moments later, Trippier's cross found Wilson in the final third but he could only steer the ball over with a header. A Trippier corner on 35 minutes was flicked on by Schar and volleyed goalwards by Wilson but it was blazed over the top.
Bruno was the next to try his luck on 38 minutes but after taking a touch his long range shot was gathered by Mark Travers in the Bournemouth goal. Yet the best chance of the half fell for Miguel Almiron.
Almiron had been on fire in the first half of the season but after Dan Burn's ball across the six-yard box Almiron's right-footed effort proved to be too weak and Philip Billing swept clear near the line.
That was the last chance of the first half as the two teams went in level at the break with Newcastle managing 11 attempts at goal but failing to convert.
After the break Schar just failed to connect with a Trippier free-kick from the right as Newcastle attacked the Leazes End. On 56 minutes a header from Moore flew wide as Bournemouth served a reminder they were still in the game.
Howe turned to the bench for the first time three minutes before the hour mark as he introduced Allan Saint-Maximin for Willock. In turn, Gary O'Neil made a change for the visitors introducing Jack Stacey for Ryan Christie.
A Saint-Maximin effort from long range cannoned off a Bournemouth defender and into the path of Wilson but - almost in a state of disbelief having found himself with a clear sight of goal - the number 9 was crowded out and the chance went begging.
But the breakthrough came when Trippier drove a powerful cross into the box on 67 minutes before Bournemouth failed to clear their lines properly and Adam Smith put the ball into his own net. It was an unfortunate moment for one of Howe's stalwarts at his old club but it sent 51,000 Geordies into ecstasy with Wembley chants erupting as the teams headed back to the middle.
Pope then had to be alert as the ball dropped for Stacey but his low shot was gathered by the Newcastle stopper on 73 minutes. Seconds later Almiron's cross was cleared by Chris Mepham with the ball coming close to troubling his own keeper for what would have been another astonishing own goal.
Howe made further changes when bringing on Jacob Murphy and Miguel Almiron for Chris Wood and Callum Wilson. Bruno's powerful shot with five minutes left struck Welsh international Mepham's arms but the ref waved away protests.
Jonjo Shelvey replaced Bruno for the last throes of the game as Newcastle looked to see out the game. But they still required a big save from Pope to deny Dominic Solanke low down at his near post.
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