Teenager Lewis Miley scored a dramatic late winner as holders Newcastle United beat Fulham to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
The quarter-final looked to be heading for penalties after Fulham midfielder Sasa Lukic’s header cancelled out Yoane Wissa’s opener at St James’ Park.
But Miley headed home at the near post from Sandro Tonali’s stoppage-time corner as Newcastle got back to winning ways following a damaging derby defeat against Sunderland on Sunday.
The 19-year-old midfielder stepped up when Newcastle needed him most, having selflessly filled in at right-back because of injuries to Kieran Trippier, Lewis Hall, Dan Burn and Tino Livramento, who hobbled off on Wednesday night.
Miley, in the process, gave Eddie Howe a crucial and much-needed victory on a night supporters repeatedly sang the name of the head coach.
The youngster was one of five players who kept his place from the weekend as Howe made six changes to his side.
Wissa was one of those who came into the team and he quickly made an impression on his first start since recovering from a knee injury and, indeed, since completing his protracted £55m move from Brentford in the summer.
Although Benjamin Lecomte got a hand to Jacob Murphy’s first-time cross, the Fulham goalkeeper merely knocked the ball into the path of Wissa, who bundled it into the net from close range.
However, shaky Newcastle were not ahead for long as Antonee Robinson ghosted into space between Murphy and Miley out wide and picked out the unmarked Sasa Lukic, who powered a header past Aaron Ramsdale.
Lecomte later punched away a swerving effort from Bruno Guimaraes and was kept busy, getting down to parry a low drive from Harvey Barnes and making a fine late save to claw away Miley’s shot.
But Miley rose to head home from the corner that followed to send Newcastle into a third EFL Cup semi-final in four seasons, where Manchester City await them.
Newcastle analysis: Miley leads response after derby gloom
There have been two constants in Howe’s four-year reign at Newcastle: his side’s ability to respond, and their big moments in the Carabao Cup.
Both came together on Wednesday night.
This was far from a perfect performance, and for some Newcastle cannot truly make amends for the manner of their derby defeat until they meet Sunderland again in March.
But this was an important victory.
On a night when the holders’ fate could have been decided by a penalty shootout, they dug deep and kept pushing for a winner right until the end.
A raucous crowd willed the hosts on after the fourth official lifted up his board to signal six minutes were added on, and Miley landed the decisive blow.
Miley scored what should have been a precious winning goal in Leverkusen in the Champions League last week – only for the visitors to concede a late equaliser on that night.
This time, however, Newcastle got over the line.
