Martin Dubravka was the hero for Newcastle United after a stunning performance at Ewood Park to send the Magpies into the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Dubravka made key stops throughout the 90 minutes and extra time, before making two penalty saves to send the brave Championship side out on penalties. Newcastle grabbed the lead with 20 minutes to go through Anthony Gordon but seemed determined to do things the hard way.
Sammie Szmodics levelled before the end of normal time and Blackburn looked dangerous in extra time before the tie was decided on pens with Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes, Elliot Anderson and Anthony Gordon all netting to edge the contest 4-3.
READ MORE: Blackburn Rovers vs Newcastle United as it happened
With traffic congestion and the later arrival of supporters from both sides causing a 15-minute delay to kick off time, Ewood Park was understandably close to boiling point in terms of the atmosphere by 8pm with both sets of fans turning the sleepy Lancashire ground into a cauldron of noise. The Championship side responded to their supporters too and caused some problems with three minutes gone when Sammie Szmodics got free down the right but Dan Burn marshalled the ball to safety.
Szmodics argued he should have had a corner but referee Jarred Gillett waved away the protests and Newcastle looked to reorganise. Newcastle had failed to win a corner kick at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday night during the 4-1 loss but managed two in the first 10 minutes at Ewood Park.
The second of which was whipped in by Kieran Trippier and it eventually fell for Bruno Guimaraes who saw his effort take a massive deflection and go out of play. On 14 minutes, Blackburn fans performed something of a tame protest against their owners as they hurled tennis balls on to the pitch but it failed to catch the imagination of the majority of their fanbase and took stewards and players a couple of minutes to clear up the mess.
United won a free-kick on the left-hand side on 21 minutes with Trippier curling in the delivery but he put too much purchase on the set-piece and it went harmlessly out of play again. Rovers had a clear opportunity on 28 minutes when Szmodics was slipped into the box by John Buckley but his shot clipped the outside of the upright in a close shave for the Magpies.
Newcastle managed their only strike on target in the first half when Sean Longstaff’s effort was saved by Aynsley Pears from a tight angle on 33 minutes. But Blackburn had another great chance before the interval as Szmodics got in again forcing Dubravka to claw the ball to safety.
Despite having 69% of the possession in the opening 45 minutes, Newcastle had survived a series of scares from the home side and were perhaps fortunate to be level at half-time. Rovers brought on Arnor Sigurdsson for Sam Gallagher for the second half.
Jacob Murphy won a free-kick three minutes into the second half but over-elaborate set-play broke down quickly and Rovers cleared the danger. Blackburn threatened again after another dangerous attack from Szmodics before the ball fell for Buckley with Dubravka forced to make another important save.
Murphy won a corner on the hour mark before Trippier hung it up and Jamaal Lascelles headed across the danger area before Blackburn cleared after a scramble. It was better from United but Howe made changes on 62 minutes when he introduced Harvey Barnes, Lewis Miley and Miguel Almiron for the tiring Isak, Willock and Murphy.
A lovely through ball from Longstaff then sent Anthony Gordon hurtling forward and left him with Pears to beat but the Rovers stopper came out and made the block on 69 minutes. Miley then won a corner before Trippier’s cross was headed over by Longstaff.
But after seemingly making things difficult for themselves, the breakthrough came with 20 minutes left and it was a goal of simplicity for Newcastle.
After Bruno and Longstaff had combined well in midfield, Trippier hoisted the ball over the top for sub Almiron before he ran on and cut the ball back across the six-yard box for Gordon to apply the finish from 12 yards and finally beat Pears. That was the cue for pandemonium in the Darwen End as 7,400 Toon fans exploded with joy in Lancashire!
The relief on Howe’s face said it all as he waved his fists and celebrated wildly in the dugout. But the happiness only lasted eight minutes as Rovers hit back and United spent the rest of the 90 minutes on a knife edge.
Newcastle were undone by a long throw from Billy Koumetio before Iceland international Sigurdsson powered down the left leaving Toon defenders trailing in his wake. Sigurdsson was allowed to cut the ball back to Dilan Markanday who hammered it off the crossbar before it inevitably fell to Szmodics who got ahead of Bruno to lash home his 24th of the season.
Trippier’s tired pass on 87 minutes rolled past Lascelles and fell invitingly for Szmodics again but he could only prod at Dubravka. Blackburn kept asking questions deep into stoppage time and Dubravka made a fine block to deny sub Yasin Ayari with his legs.
Rovers had looked like the team most capable of winning it in normal time but the cup tie went to an extra 30 minutes with Blackburn fans absolutely bouncing.
On 94 minutes Gordon rolled a decent pass to Barnes but his effort was blocked for a corner. Longstaff slipped in Miley four minutes later but Dom Hyam read his intentions and made the block.
The Magpies won a corner in the 100th minute with Bruno pinging the ball in at pace before Schar headed over the top. Howe’s team would be handed two golden chances three minutes later.
Bruno spun away and delivered a ball into the box which Rovers could only half-clear with Gordon hitting it low but Pears coming up with a block, however, Longstaff could not convert on the follow up as the Durham-born stopper making another save.
And so on to the second period of extra time at Ewood Park with the tie still wide open. Two minutes into that second half, the ball fell to Jake Garrett but his effort flew high over the bar.
Miley then won a corner before the ball fell for Gordon who struck a powerful effort straight into the chest of Pears. Having been denied by the ex-England youth keeper, they would then see Scott Wharton prevent them taking the lead.
After Gordon’s good run, the ball was pulled back to Bruno but Wharton’s chest blocked the ball on the line. Howe then took Miley off for Elliot Anderson in the closing stages of extra time.
Neither side could find a winner and so the contest would be decided by a penalty shoot out. There was tension when Harvey Barnes missed his kick but Dubravka’s save and successes for Schar, Bruno, Anderson and Gordon sealed it.
TALE OF THE TAPE IN THE SHOOT-OUT
Schar rolled home to beat Pears 1-0
Szmodics effort saved by Dubravka 1-0
Barnes stepped up and Pears saved 1-0
Brittain 1-1 beat Dubravka low down
Bruno little pause and makes it 2-1
Sigurdsson smashed home 2-2
Anderson makes it 3-2
Ayari steers it home 3-3
Gordon converts calmly 4-3
Hyam denied by Martin Dubravka to send Newcastle through 4-3
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Australia)
Attendance: 22,730 (7,432 away fans)
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
