Two goals from Sando Tonali helped Newcastle beat Brentford 3-1 in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at St James' Park.
The Magpies midfielder scored two good finishes in the first half to put his team on full charge. When Fabian Schar headed in from close range midway through the second, there was no going back for the Bees, despite a consolation goal from Yoane Wissa in stoppage time.
Eddie Howe signaled his intention by naming an unchanged starting line-up from the one that hammered Leicester 4-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, and that was reflected in a dominant performance against a Brentford side that struggled to create until late on.
Tonali's Newcastle stars win
Tonali's first goal, drilled from outside the box, was the Italian's first for the club since he scored six minutes into his debut in August last year. He didn't have to wait that long for his next, an easy volley from a corner that beat Mark Flekken.
Thomas Frank's men could point to a possible foul on the ball, but they could have few real complaints on a night that saw little go their way from the moment Sep van den Berg was injured in the warm-up. Ethan Pinnock is also out early with a hamstring problem.
“I've been quite vocal about the fact that I don't think we've had an optimal schedule,” Frank said earlier, referring to Brentford's game against Chelsea late on Sunday. But for Newcastle there was a sense that it was a slightly higher priority.
Without a major domestic trophy in almost 70 years, Howe would like to end that wait. In the last four, they now have a chance. And Newcastle's improved form will offer encouragement that they are capable of booking their place at Wembley.
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Check out Sandro Tonali's two beautiful goals for Newcastle against Brentford
Frank: We lost to a better team
Brentford boss Thomas Frank speaking to Sky Sports:
“We lost to a better team that day. There's not much to say other than that. If you look at our performance, we can't concede the three goals we conceded.
“That's the part I'm very disappointed with and we have to sort it out. In a difficult quarter-final, we cannot concede three soft goals.
“But fair play to Newcastle, they were well-worked corner routines. But if you want to progress to the semi-finals, we have to do better.”
Howe delighted with Newcastle's midfield
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaks after the game:
“I'm really happy with the players. It was a tough game but we scored some great goals tonight which we're really happy with the quality of. And we're happy for Sandro with his two great strikes.
“He's really been back for a while, however you qualify it. His performances in the middle of the park have been really good for us and he continues to get better the more he plays and improves his relationship with the players around him.
“He looks a lot more comfortable when he's deeper on the pitch. I'm delighted with how our midfield looks at the moment. We have some outstanding players and the balance looks good.”
Great Tonali amps it up for Toon
Analysis by Sky Sports' Simeon Gholam:
If Tonali is unhappy at Newcastle, he certainly doesn't look it.
The Italy midfielder finally appears to have lived up to expectations and price tag at St James' Park, with his brilliance proving the difference in the Magpies' approach.
The first goal was exceptional, the cleanest goal that showed the technique at his disposal. His reaction and celebration show the bond he has forged with the Toon support – who backed him strongly through his ban last season.
The second, the product of a well-worked corner routine, showed his intelligence and spatial awareness. Away from the goals, he and Bruno Guimaraes dominated the middle of the park. It seems like a special partnership is forming between the two.
If not his best performance in a Newcastle shirt, this was certainly his most memorable. His quality swung the game in their direction. If he could become the man to lead the club to that long-awaited trophy, he will never be forgotten in the city.