THE STAFF OF DREAMS
Two-goal local hero Sean has Tyne of his life by booking Toon Wembley date
AS if the Saudi millions are not enough, as if the special talent of a number of expensive recruits is not enough, as if an outstanding manager is not enough, they also have a local hero.
And you know how much they love one of those in these parts.
If the owners wrote their dream script when taking over this club, Newcastle United have pretty much followed it to the letter.
Only four clubs in the world spent more than the Toon in 2022 and, ahead of this nervous procession, they paraded a £45million signing.
Yet leading their stumble to a first Wembley final since 1999 was Sean Longstaff, born down the road and with the club since he was a boy.
There was a misstep when Che Adams completed the unusual task of beating Nick Pope at this ground.
But Longstaff ’s two goals in the opening 21 minutes had all but ensured the visit to Wembley.
To begin with, this wasn’t a football match, this was a bona fide party, a black and white rave. Remember some local misgivings about the Saudi ownership?
Any of those have been washed away by a tide of euphoria – and that is no exaggeration.
They are not just happy on Tyneside, they are euphoric.
New boy Anthony Gordon, who has had a diet of bitterness for the first half of the season, looked truly stunned by the atmosphere when he was introduced to the crowd ahead of kick-off. And that atmosphere was dialled up a notch within a few minutes of the first whistle when Longstaff doubled the Geordies’ aggregate lead.
It was a very tidy finish and a typically neat assist from Kieran Trippier. But special mention has to go to Bruno Guimaraes after his technique and vision started the move.
There has been no more influential figure than Guimaraes in the English game this season. But he will now be sorely missed by Eddie Howe after an 82ndminute red card for a naughty tackle on Sam Edozie.
The only surprise was that Guimaraes was not a key figure in Longstaff ’s second, Miguel Almiron setting up the emphatic side-footed finish after a neat link-up from Joelinton and Joe Willock.
Remarkably, these were Longstaff ’s first goals at St James’ Park in almost FOUR YEARS.
But almost as if to prove not everything can go perfectly, Willock gifted Adams a shooting chance
from long range which the Southampton striker accepted with impressive precision.
Adams’ strike put something of a slow puncture in the home mood and it soon became clear that nerves would play a part in Newcastle’s night.
But while Southampton enjoyed a level of control in the second-half, they never really threatened to pull off an improbable comeback.
Pope did have to pull off a smart stop after ex-toon striker Adam Armstrong found himself one-on-one with the England keeper. And
Newcastle managed to keep the Saints at arm’s length even after VAR made sure Guimaraes was dismissed late on.
So, it is Newcastle who will meet either Manchester United or Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup Final on February 26.
The flags were again unfurled at full-time and a raft of famous old boys acclaimed the achievement of Howe’s men.
They are creating something special on Tyneside – and don’t bet against them adding another chapter to their dream script.