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Newcastle missed out on a first major semi-final in 15 years after they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Brentford in the last eight of the Carabao Cup.<\/p>\nNewcastle missed out on a first major semi-final in 15 years after they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Brentford in the last eight of the Carabao Cup.<\/p>\n
Magpies boss Steve Bruce was looking for some respite from a torrid spell on Tyneside, but a second-half goal from England Under-21 midfielder Josh Dasilva merely piled on the misery.<\/p>\n
Newcastle arrived in west London in a familiarly beleaguered state, having hit a rocky patch both on the pitch \u2013 a 5-2 defeat at Leeds was followed by a draw against 10-man Fulham \u2013 and off it amid Covid-19 outbreaks, rumors of unrest in the squad and fan discontent.<\/p>\n
A first League Cup semi-final since 1976 may have at least eased the latter problem, but it was not to be and the Toon\u2019s wait for silverware will tick into a 52nd year.<\/p>\n
Instead Dasilva\u2019s goal created a piece of Brentford history, firing the Championship Bees into their first major cup semi-final.<\/p>\n
Brentford had even made six changes to Newcastle\u2019s four, starting with top scorer and former Magpies striker Ivan Toney on the bench.<\/p>\n
But they still made a fast start with Saman Ghoddos firing wide and Ethan Pinnock heading over from a corner.<\/p>\n
For Newcastle, Callum Wilson got away from Mads Bech Sorensen but his shot was well blocked at the near post by Bees keeper Luke Daniels.<\/p>\n
Then Wilson almost got on the end of Ryan Fraser\u2019s inviting cross six yards out but Sorensen\u2019s touch took it away from the striker.<\/p>\n
Brentford squandered two excellent chances to open the scoring, first when Iranian midfielder Ghoddos lifted Dasilva\u2019s low cross against the crossbar.<\/p>\n
Then Pinnock headed a corner back across goal for Sergi Canos, who made an awful mess of a free header at the far post.<\/p>\n
Newcastle almost carved Brentford open twice in the final 10 minutes of the first half, with Fraser forcing a fine save from Daniels with a fierce, dipping volley and Wilson denied by Sorensen\u2019s challenge as he bore down on goal.<\/p>\n
Wilson had another opportunity after the break from a Jamal Lewis cross but could only guide it over the top.<\/p>\n
Brentford remained a threat, though, and Marcus Forss could not force home Tariqe Fosu\u2019s driven cross before Canos and Christian Norgaard saw shots blocked.<\/p>\n
The breakthrough came in the 66th minute, when Canos lifted a delightful cross into the area for Dasilva to slide in and fire home.<\/p>\n
Bruce turned to Andy Carroll from the bench to attempt to retrieve the situation but the big striker could only blaze a couple of long-range efforts off target.<\/p>\n
It is back to the Premier League, and games against Manchester City and Liverpool, next for the Magpies, with another winter of discontent looming for Bruce.<\/p>\n