A week later than planned, Newcastle United play their Carabao Cup third-round tie this evening as they now host AFC Wimbledon at St James' Park. After last week's scheduled game at Plough Lane had to be cancelled due to damage to the pitch following heavy rains.
Eddie Howe is set to make some changes to his starting line up tonight, with one eye on Saturday's Premier League game at Everton, but has indicated he will field a strong side. Miguel Almiron, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Tino Livramento could come into the side, with Will Osula potentially getting his chance to start.
This will be Wimbledon's first game since a goalless draw at Bradford City on September 21, with the Wombles looking to pull off a shock against Newcastle tonight. We've got all the build up coming up, with team news, match analysis, reaction and ratings to come.
Key Events
Wimbledon boss not happy
Safe to say Johnnie Jackson, AFC Wimbledon boss, isn't happy with the penalty decision...
AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson says he is 'fuming' with #NUFC penalty decision.
— Aaron Stokes (@AaronJStokes) October 1, 2024
"The first one is a dive [Schar], so it should be a card.... The ref doesn't give it and then the linesman decides to get involved."
The match verdict
Newcastle United made hard work of it against League Two strugglers Wimbledon - but got the job done at St James' Park.
Full-time: Newcastle 1-0 Wimbledon
It wasn't the prettiest at times... but Newcastle are into the next round of the cup!
Schar's penalty is enough to book a clash with Chelsea in the next round!
Burn on
The ball finally goes out after about seven minutes of waiting, which means it's three changes for Wimbledon.
Burn is on for Schar.
Closing stages
Newcastle win another corner but it comes to zilch. 85 on the clock.
Dan Burn looks set to come on for the Magpies after taking a knock a few moments back.
Wimbledon have been preparing a late triple change for some time, with a wealth of instructions dished out by Johnnie Jackson.
In the 81st minute
Bruno volleys at goal after patient build up. Deflected for a corner. Miggy has a go from the edge of the area from the resulting set piece.
Newcastle totally dominant here but Wimbledon defending deep and well to frustrate to home side.
Schar bends over
Nice interplay down the right between Tino, Miggy and Bruno before Schar hits one first time, from range, and sends a ball curling into the Gallowgate.
1-0, 74 on the clock.
Great effort by Osula
Newcastle knocking on the door here.
Willock pokes the ball through and Osula uses his body to turn his man before firing a left-footed shot into the side netting.
Decent chance.
Another glorious chance
Gordon cuts inside and bends a lovely ball to the back stick. Miggy is waiting, decides to stretch his left leg out but he's too late and it's wide of the target.
Should be 2-0
What a huge block that is by Harbottle.
Livramento overlaps Miggy, crosses low, and the ball falls into the path of Willock, 12 yards out, who pokes one at goal but the Wimbledon defender puts his head in the way to stop a certain goal.
He's now down receiving treatment after taking such a whack to the temple.
Two Newcastle changes
Joelinton makes way for Gordon.
Hall replaces Krafth. Tino switches back to right-back.
3 v 2 comes to nothing
Almiron leads the counter as Newcastle outnumber Wimbledon 3 vs 2. Miggy sends the ball out wide to Willock but the left-sided attacker runs it out of play at the byline.
Newcastle on top
Goodman not yet tested in the Wimbledon goal as of yet. But Newcastle still on top and enjoying large swathes of possession.
The away side have just launched their first attack of the second period but Krafth headed the danger clear before Miggy's crucial interception soon after.
This isn't exactly vintage stuff, the Newcastle crowd are very quiet, and you feel Howe's side need a second goal just to kill this as a tie.
Back under way
A bit to update you on!
Dubravka can't continue and Vlachodimos is on. Bruno has also replaced Barnes, with Joelinton moving out to left-wing.
Krafth is now at right-back, Tino has swapped to left-back and Kelly has moved into centre-back along with Schar.
Dubravka issue
Half-time change coming?
Looks like Odysseas Vlachodimos could be coming on for Martin Dubravka. The Greek stopper currently facing shots from John Ruddy and a GK coach at the interval #NUFC
— Aaron Stokes (@AaronJStokes) October 1, 2024
Half-time player ratings
Lee Ryder's first half ratings
Martin Dubravka 6 - Barely tested. Nailed by a Dons challenge late in the half.
Tino Livramento 6 - Steady enough.
Emil Krafth 6 - Did OK. Nothing spectacular.
Fabian Schar 7 - Not concerned about playing old school long balls which have been quite effective. Ice cold penalty.
Lloyd Kelly 6 - Decent pressure early in the game.
Joelinton 7 - Hard working.
Sean Longstaff 6 - One shot straight at the keeper.
Joe Willock 5 - Has not grasped this so far.
Miguel Almiron 6 - One good chance blazed over. Looks rusty.
Harvey Barnes 7 - His fitness sharpness has shined through. One effort just wide.
William Osula 6 - Two opportunities wasted.
Half-time at St James' Park
Newcastle made to wait, and work, but they have their half-time lead courtesy of a very calm Fabian Schar spot kick.
Osula doing all the right things off the ball but hasn't received too much service on his competitive Newcastle debut from the start.
As cool as you like
Well, we weren't sure if Newcastle had been given a penalty there given the long wait to award it - but Schar steps up and rolls the ball beyond Goodman in fine fashion.
Newcastle have their lead. Four minutes of stoppage time here.
Penalty? We think...
Confusion here as Almiron goes down, ref plays on, linesman does nothing and then eventually puts his flag up and the ref points to the spot....
Schar to take.
Dubravka up
He's going to try and play through the pain but the Newcastle stopper continues to limp.
Dubravka down injured
Looked a nasty one, that.
An offside Omar Bugiel latches on to a through ball and absolutely nails Dubravka when stretching to take a shot from close range. He's receiving treatment.
Both Ruddy and Vlachodimos sent to warm up.
Osula has a pop
He wriggles free from two defenders, touches the ball out of his feet and fires at goal from distance.
Always rising into the Leazes, unfortunately.
Applause in the corner as Bruno goes to warm up but Newcastle fans around the stadium appear to be growing a little frustrated at proceedings so far. Away fans haven't stopped singing all game.
Good spell for Newcastle
Howe's men keep the ball amongst themselves for a good 50 or so passes before Tino finally peels away round the back.
His cross is driven in but Wimbledon clear.
Half an hour gone, no goals yet, a bit of a flat atmosphere in here, to be honest.
Miggy blasts over
Golden opportunity - and he should do so much better.
Miggy times his run to perfection, is played over the top, brings it down and then absolutely lashes a left-footed, half-volley over the bar.
Rushed that.
Barnes lets fly
Clearly he's somehow seen my last post in this blog.... because Barnes has just picked the ball up on the left and curled a beauty towards the far post.
Narrowly misses the target but a great effort by the Newcastle winger.
25 played
No luck, as of yet, for Newcastle despite a few decent opportunities.
Osula was involved early but has since been marked out of the game, while Barnes really needs to be showing his class against this level of opposition. He's been too quiet so far.
The away side happy to counter when they win the ball back deep in their own half. Newcastle need to be wary of that, despite the fact they've had 80% possession so far.
