Penalty hero, bold subs and Gordon holds his head high

NEWCASTLE United have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals following a dramatic penalty shootout win against Championship side Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock in the 71st minute, following Miguel Almiron’s pullback, but Sammie Szmodics’s close-range effort took the game to extra time. The teams could not be separated, however, following an additional 30 minutes of action but Newcastle ultimately triumphed 4-3 in the shootout thanks in no small part to goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Here are five things we learned from the game.

MARTIN DUBRAVKA THE HERO AS DOUBLE TOSS WIN PROVES CRUCIAL

7,432 Geordies held their breath at Ewood Park. The fate of Newcastle United’s season rested on the lottery of a penalty shootout. How did it come to this? Well, at least Newcastle won both tosses to not only go first but, also, take the spot-kicks in front of their own supporters after referee Jarred Gillett’s coin landed in the Magpies’ favour on both occasions.

Fabian Schar rolled the ball into the corner for Newcastle’s first to immediately put the pressure on Blackburn. Martin Dubravka, who shook off a bout of illness to produce a man of the match display, then made a fine save to stop Szmodics. The visitors had the chance to go 2-0 up in the shootout – only for Harvey Barnes to have his penalty saved by Aynsley Pears.

Callum Brittain levelled it up with an emphatic effort, but the composed Bruno Guimaraes scooped the ball straight down the middle to put Newcastle back in front. Arnar Sigurdsson drew Blackburn level, again, before Elliot Anderson showed his mettle to bury the ball into the bottom corner to put Newcastle 3-2 ahead in the shootout. Yasin Ayari also showed nerves of steel with a skip and a jump to take it to sudden death.

Then it was Anthony Gordon’s turn to fire straight down the middle to make it 4-3. Blackburn had to score, but Dominic Hyam was denied by Dubravka.

That was the cue for wild celebrations in the Darwen End behind the goal as Dubravka was mobbed by his relieved team-mates. Newcastle are now just one win away from a Wembley semi-final – and they have their goalkeeper to thank.

Blackburn Rovers boss John Eustace called Newcastle “one of the best teams in Europe”. Well, you would not have thought that on Saturday after passive Newcastle were thumped 4-1 by Arsenal. You certainly would not have thought it based on this performance at Ewood Park, either.

This was supposed to be a chance for Newcastle to respond, to get that night at the Emirates out of their system, as Eddie Howe tellingly made five changes to his side, but the visitors were slow and ponderous from the get-go and struggled to find a way through Blackburn’s stubborn defensive shape. Blackburn grew in confidence with each passing minute; Tyrhys Dolan vowed “we want to send a message to everyone” and the fearless forward was not lying. In fact, Martin Dubravka had to make crucial saves to deny both Dolan and Sammie Szmodics, the competition’s top scorer, in the first half.

For all their possession – Newcastle had 68% of the ball at one point – the black-and-whites only mustered one measly effort on target in the first half and, tellingly, it was Blackburn who emerged the stronger, hungrier side after the break, too. It certainly did not take John Buckley long to force Dubravka into action once more in the 52nd minute and, even after Newcastle took the lead, Blackburn came roaring back.

In fact, it was Newcastle who were holding on in normal time and the Magpies were indebted to their goalkeeper for keeping them in the cup when he denied Yasin Ayari at the death after the substitute’s effort took a wicked deflection off Lascelles. Dubravka also made a huge save in extra time to keep out

Anthony Gordon opens the scoring for Newcastle

Blackburn’s Sammie Szmodics scores