Eddie Howe expressed his sense of ‘relief’ after Newcastle narrowly defeated Blackburn in a penalty shootout, securing their spot in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The Magpies’ manager emphasized their ‘desperation’ to clinch victory in the competition.
Martin Dubravka emerged as Newcastle’s standout performer at Ewood Park, deflecting Dominic Hyam’s penalty onto the post following his earlier save from Sammie Szmodics, who had netted during regular play.
Despite Harvey Barnes failing to convert his penalty for the Premier League team, Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes, Elliot Anderson, and Anthony Gordon successfully converted their attempts, securing Newcastle’s progression in a thrilling match.
Martin Dubravka emerged as Newcastle’s standout performer at Ewood Park, deflecting Dominic Hyam’s penalty onto the post following his earlier save from Sammie Szmodics, who had netted during regular play.
Despite Harvey Barnes failing to convert his penalty for the Premier League team, Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes, Elliot Anderson, and Anthony Gordon successfully converted their attempts, securing Newcastle’s progression in a thrilling match.
“There is only one emotion and that is relief,” said Howe. “It was a hard-fought cup tie. Both sides gave everything to get the win and didn’t give an inch, but we are delighted to be in the hat for the next round.
“No-one is underestimating the importance of the FA Cup so the players are very happy.
“This keeps us in a competition we are desperate to do well in and also gets us closer to Wembley. We’re one game away so hopefully we can get a good draw.
“Our target this year is the FA Cup and to finish as high as possible in the Premier League, and this is hopefully pivotal towards that.”
“There is only one emotion and that is relief,” said Howe. “It was a hard-fought cup tie. Both sides gave everything to get the win and didn’t give an inch, but we are delighted to be in the hat for the next round.
“No-one is underestimating the importance of the FA Cup so the players are very happy.
“This keeps us in a competition we are desperate to do well in and also gets us closer to Wembley. We’re one game away so hopefully we can get a good draw.
“Our target this year is the FA Cup and to finish as high as possible in the Premier League, and this is hopefully pivotal towards that.”
Gordon broke the deadlock for Newcastle in the 71st minute with a precise first-time shot following an energetic run down the right flank by substitute Miguel Almiron. This goal came moments after Gordon’s earlier attempt had been thwarted by Rovers’ goalkeeper Aynsley Pears when he found himself one-on-one.
However, Blackburn, positioned 16th in the second tier, quickly equalized, only trailing for eight minutes.
Szmodics leveled the score with his 24th goal of the season across all competitions, capitalizing on a rebound after Dubravka had spectacularly tipped Dilan Markanday’s shot onto the crossbar.
In the dying moments of injury time, Rovers came close to clinching victory, but Dubravka’s quick reflexes denied Yasin Ayari’s strike, leading the match into extra time.
Both sides had numerous opportunities to secure the win, with Schar, Gordon, Sean Longstaff, Dan Burn, and Guimaraes all missing promising chances for the visitors. Szmodics also tested the Newcastle defense again in a frenetic period of extra time, but the match was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout.
The quarter-final draw is scheduled for 19:00 GMT on Wednesday, preceding Chelsea’s home fixture against Leeds on ITV4. The quarter-final ties will be contested over the weekend of 16th March.
Dubravka heroics give Newcastle new ‘hope’
The conclusion proved to be unforgiving for Rovers’ captain Hyam and his defensive counterpart Scott Wharton, who earned the player of the match title for their outstanding display. Wharton notably executed a superb goal-line clearance during extra time to thwart Guimaraes’ attempt.
The penalty shootout unfolded in front of Newcastle’s devoted 7,430 traveling supporters, who contributed to an electric atmosphere, enhancing the spectacle of this memorable cup encounter. The attendance of 22,730 marked the highest turnout for a Blackburn fixture at Ewood Park since a League One promotion celebration against Oxford United on 5th May 2018.
Despite a season fraught with disappointments, the outcome offers Newcastle a glimmer of hope to salvage something significant. Manager Eddie Howe had previously hinted at the potential for the campaign to hold special moments.
Newcastle’s fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season secured their maiden Champions League qualification in two decades. However, their current 10th position suggests a return to the top four is unlikely, with European football for the 2024-25 season now pinned on aspirations for the Europa League or Europa Conference League.
Former Blackburn and Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, speaking on BBC One, emphasized the magnitude of the victory, labeling it as a “huge, huge win” for Howe and his squad.
“Newcastle owe Martin Dubravka a lot, he’s made a lot of good saves and he made two saves in the shootout,” said Shearer. “They owe him a huge debt. They are in the next round because of him.
“It is a massive result for Newcastle and Eddie Howe. They needed this. It’s pretty worrying that it didn’t look like they had energy, but that might galvanise them and give them a bit of hope.”
Newcastle has secured a berth in the FA Cup quarter-finals, with the tournament victors earning a coveted spot in the Europa League. Their ambition extends to claiming their first major trophy since 1969. However, their journey was arduous, facing formidable opposition hovering just four points above the relegation zone in the Championship.
Under the leadership of newly appointed manager John Eustace, following Jon Dahl Tomasson’s resignation in February, Blackburn approached the match with a directive to play with freedom and relish the occasion. This strategy paid dividends, especially in the first half, where they showcased superiority, with Szmodics notably shining.
Despite Blackburn’s dominance, Newcastle’s goalkeeper Dubravka showcased resilience, crucially denying Szmodics and Hyam when it counted the most, ultimately guiding his team to a hard-fought victory.
Home fans protest against owners
Fourteen minutes into the match, play was momentarily halted when a group of fans in the corner of the Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End, the end being defended by Rovers in the first half, threw between 15 to 20 tennis balls onto the pitch.
“We want Venky’s out,” was the chant echoed by some home supporters as they expressed their frustration towards the club’s ownership.
Similar demonstrations involving tennis balls have occurred in several Bundesliga matches recently, with fans protesting against a proposed investment plan by the German Football Association, which has since been abandoned in Germany.
While these Bundesliga protests typically resulted in delays of approximately 10 minutes and sometimes led to teams temporarily leaving the field, the tennis balls were swiftly removed at Ewood Park.
Former Blackburn midfielder Danny Murphy, sharing his views on BBC One, interpreted the incident as indicative of the club’s ongoing need to address their off-field concerns.
He said: “We had five managers in one season and there was discontent then. The reality is that there has not been any stability for this club.
“It is a great club as well. Still a lot of great people here. It should be doing better.”