Saints 0 Newcastle 1: Joelinton disallowed a goal and misses the sitter before FINALLY sending Toon a step closer to the final

For a while we witnessed old Joelinton – the Mike Ashley-era one who played center forward and couldn’t hit a cow’s butt with a banjo.

The tall Brazilian blew a close-range chance before finding the net – and then produced a contender for the season that Row-Zedding missed from six yards.

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But eventually the new Joelinton – the formidable model from the ultra-efficient Geordie Arabia era – emerged and found the net with a six-foot tap-in, delighting the massed ranks of the Toon Army’s foot soldiers.

They told their ma they didn’t want tea, they were going to Wembley.

And next Tuesday, in an expectant St James’ Park, Eddie Howe’s men will surely fulfill that prophet by finishing this Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

Saints, bottom of the Premier League, had ruled out an equalizer after an Adam Armstrong handball but Duje Caleta-Car in the middle was sent off late as Newcastle’s superior class began to speak.

Eddie Howe’s side will certainly be at Wembley on February 26 to take on Manchester United or Nottingham Forest – and they will be keen on their chances of lifting a first home trophy since Wor Jackie Milburn’s days long gone.

Given the 18-year hiatus since their last semi-final appearance and their 54-year wait for a major trophy, the 644-mile journey from Tyneside would have felt like a trip to the local for the Toon Army.

Your team has been solid, professional, but actually pretty boring lately, but after more than a decade of chaos, amateurism, and actually pretty boring under Ashley, this season has been a big rebound.

The home support didn’t have the same sense of occasion. The threat of relegation and a dismal Premier League record at St Mary’s.

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Nick Pope – dressed in fluorescent orange like a steward – has had a similar stance of late about not banning his work.

He has not conceded a goal since a late Saints consolation goal in the 4-1 win here on November 6 – a ten-goal streak for the puritanical Pope.

Newcastle should have taken the lead in the second minute when Miguel Almiron got away and found Joe Willock, but the midfielder, in glorious isolation, fired his shot.

The Saints were clearly struggling for confidence and rhythm, their centre-backs Lyanco and Caleta-Car consistently feeding through to the Newcastle players and putting pressure on the hosts.

Caleta-Car rattled Almiron with a terribly clumsy challenge that earned him a warning.

When Newcastle broke soon after, Almiron with a bow-legged dribble, Kieran Trippier with a striking whip center, Willock was back on the ball and rocketing his volley.

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Howe’s men thought they had scored five minutes before the break when Willock sliced ​​in from the left and forced a save from Gavin Bazunu.

When Mohammed Salisu hacked clear, a line of Newcastle players waited but Joelinton appeared to keep control with his arm before his shot found the net and referee Stuart Attwell ruled it out.

Pope was soon forced into an impromptu save by a gushing, evasive low drive from Carlos Alcaraz.

And Pope, suddenly busy, had to shoot from his area to clear Moussa Djenepro, crashing into the Saints winger in the process but evading punishment despite howls from home players and fans.

After the break, Almiron again left scorched earth down the left flank but as he cut back Sean Longstaff cleared the bar, the subject for Newcastle’s evening.

After Alcaraz – the Argentina midfielder making his full debut – defeated Dan Burn with a nutmeg, Sekjou sent a scissors punch just wide of Mara.

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But then came an extraordinary blunder that seemed to sum up Newcastle’s recent form.

Almiron’s pace and tricks confused the Saints defense but after his low center located Joelinton six yards away, the Brazilian somehow shot wide despite trying to hit a lateral foot rather than blasting it.

Alcaraz, who can definitely play a bit, let go of Che Adams but the sub almost had too much time to think and darted too close to Pope, who stuck out a foot to save.

This was more like Southampton and soon Adams was forcing a sweeping parade from Pope.

But then, just for Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak hit his man on the right and centered deep for Joelinton to finally end his frustration from two yards as the Geordies frolic behind him.

The Saints thought they equalized almost immediately, but Armstrong had it made when he and Dan Burn fell over each other as he put the finishing touches on Samuel Edozie’s hooked center.

Caleta-Car suffered his second caution for hitting Allan Saint-Maximin late and the Geordies will have sung as they de-iced their engines for the long journey home.