Newcastle beat Wimbledon in EFL Cup to set up Chelsea tie
Newcastle booked their place in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup with a routine victory over AFC Wimbledon thanks to Fabian Schar’s penalty.
The Magpies were awarded the spot-kick on the stroke of half-time of the rescheduled third-round tie at St James’ Park after Miguel Almiron was fouled by Joe Pigott.
Referee Darren Bond only gave the penalty after lengthy consultation with his assistant and Schar calmly stroked the ball beyond visiting goalkeeper Owen Goodman.
Newcastle will face Chelsea at St James’ Park in the fourth round on 30 October.
The margin of victory may have been just a goal but Newcastle monopolised the possession and chances against their League Two opponents in a relatively low-key match.
Almiron, Harvey Barnes and Sean Longstaff all went close for Eddie Howe’s side while Wimbledon failed to register a single shot on target.
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Magpies see off spirited Dons
This tie had been due to take place at Wimbledon’s Plough Lane home last week before flooding caused damage to the pitch.
It was hastily rearranged at St James’ Park instead, with Saudi-backed Newcastle donating £15,000 to Wimbledon to aid the substantial repair effort.
‘Thank you NUFC and the wider football family’ said a banner held up in the away end by Wimbledon fans.
Newcastle’s charity did not stretch to matters on the pitch, though, as they clinically closed out the tie against a side 60 places below them in the football pyramid.
Howe made eight changes from the team which held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the weekend but Wimbledon were comfortably second best to the Magpies’ second best.
The Dons were organised, disciplined and showed plenty of fighting spirit but carried next to no threat in the final third.As soon as Newcastle got their noses in front there was no way back into the contest for Johnnie Jackson’s side.
