Tonali blows away Brentford to send Newcastle into Carabao Cup semi-finals

A sticking plaster camouflaging Newcastle’s internal tensions or a potential long-term cure for their problems? Whatever the reality, Eddie Howe’s inconsistent team are a two legged semi-final away from a potentially transformative Wembley showpiece after two stellar first-half goals from the excellent Sandro Tonali and another from Fabian Schär undid an underwhelming Brentford on a cool, still Tyneside night.

As Tonali controlled the pace of this last eight tie, displaying an invaluable ability to slow things down when necessary, and Howe’s dream of ending his club’s long decades without a trophy endured, Thomas Frank’s players wilted beneath the floodlights. Long before Yoane Wissa’s academic stoppage time goal reduced the deficit, they looked to, mentally, have checked in for their flight back to London. Frank was certainly not in a mood for excuses. “Newcastle were the better team,” he said. “We gave three soft goals away, that’s the most disappointing thing.”

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