IT SAINT OVER TILL IT’S OVER
Armstrong refuses to wave goodbye to Southampton’s Cup Final dream and says: We’re going up to have a right go
NEWCASTLE reject Adam Armstrong warned fired-up Southampton will “have a right go” at St James’ Park after Jacob Murphy’s taunt added insult to ignominy.
The Saints striker had his ‘equaliser’ chalked off by VAR (below left) in Tuesday’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat to Toon.
The hosts’ cause was further undermined by the late dismissal of Croatian defender Duje Caleta-car for two bookings – and Magpies sub Murphy sent him on his way with a sarcastic wave.
That led to players on both sides squaring up and Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes being booked for his part in the squabble.
Caleta-car briefly paused as he trudged off the pitch to glare at Murphy, although there could be little debate about his second yellow card for chopping down winger Allan Saint-maximin.
Armstrong, who left Tyneside after making only one league start for his hometown club, insists the tie is not over – although Saints will face a wall of noise from 52,000
Geordies in the return leg (Nick Pope battles Moussa Djenepo, below). Armstrong said: “It’s only 1-0, it’s not as bad as it sounds. We’ll go to St James’ with something to believe and it’s going to be a great atmosphere.
“It’s a massive game, what footballers live for – semi-finals, big competitions, a chance to get to Wembley.
“We can’t get too down, we’re still in it and it’s going to be a massive game. We’re going to go there and have a right go.”
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admits the tie is far from over and hoping the pain of falling short in his playing days will help his side avoid complacency in their crusade to land a first domestic trophy since 1955.
He suffered repeated heartache as a defender with Bournemouth in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the club persistently missed out on a play-off spot in the fourth tier.
He admits those experiences have had a lasting effect and warned: “I’m not thinking of the final, only of the semi-final.
“Unfortunately, in my playing career I felt so many disappointments from potential moments of success that, from my side, I’m very calm, very level, knowing there’s still a lot of work to do.”