EFL Cup final: Newcastle United's road to Wembley

The Magpies have not been involved in a major domestic cup final since they finished runners-up to Man United in the 1998-99 FA Cup.

Eddie Howe will be hoping that he can guide Newcastle to their first major trophy since the Fairs Cities Cup in 1969.

Ahead of Sunday's final, Sports Mole reviews Newcastle's road to their Wembley showdown with the Red Devils

Second Round (August 24): Tranmere Rovers 1-2 Newcastle

Newcastle were forced to come from behind after Elliot Nevitt gave League Two Tranmere the lead in the 21st minute.

Five minutes before half time, the Magpies restored parity through Jamal Lascelles, whose initial header from Kieran Trippier's corner was blocked, but he thumped the ball home at the second time asking.

Another Trippier corner-kick proved to be Tranmere's undoing in the 52nd minute, as Chris Wood rose highest to head home the winning goal.

While the New Zealand international may have kick started Newcastle's road to Wembley, he will not be involved on Sunday after joining Nottingham Forest in January.

Third Round (November 9): Newcastle 0-0 Crystal Palace (3-2 penalties)

Newcastle faced Premier League opposition in the third round, and with neither side able to find a winner in regulation time, tie was settled by a penalty shootout.

Wood, Trippier and Joelinton all dispatched their spot-kicks, while Luka Milivojevic missed Palace's first penalty before Will Hughes and Joel Ward both found the net.

Although Sven Botman was denied by Sam Johnstone and Bruno Guimaraes blazed over from 12 yards, Nick Pope's goalkeeping heroics ensured Newcastle progressed to the next round.

The England international dived to his left to thwart both Jean-Philippe Mateta, before he guessed the right way to prevent Malcolm Ebiowei from finding the net.

Fourth Round (December 20): Newcastle 1-0 Bournemouth

Howe won three promotions in his time from Bournemouth boss, but there was no time for sentimentality when his former club visited St James Park in December.

In their first game back since the World Cup break, the Magpies had the ball in the net in the first half thanks to former Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson.

However, the goal was swiftly chalked off after an offside Joe Willock was adjudged to be interfering with play.

With just over 20 minutes remaining, Newcastle were celebrating a winning goal after Adam Smith misjudged a defensive header from Kieran Trippier's dangerous cross, which looped into his own net.

Quarter-final (January 10): Newcastle 2-0 Leicester City

Newcastle had previously cruised to a 3-0 victory over Leicester on Boxing Day, and they began the quarter-final clash in a similar fashion.

Despite dominating from kick off, the Magpies had to wait until the hour mark before they could celebrate an opening goal.

Boyhood Newcastle fan Dan Burn drove into the box from the left flank, before beating Danny Ward to register his only goal of the 2022-23 campaign.

Within 12 minutes, the Newcastle faithful were celebrating a second as Miguel Almiron found the run of Joelinton, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Semi-final first leg (January 24): Southampton 0-1 Newcastle

Joelinton thought he had given the visitors the lead in the 40th minute, but the referee adjudged that he had handled the ball before firing home from close-range.

There was a sense that it may not be Joelinton's evening, as the 26-year-old spurned a gilt-edged opportunity eight minutes after half time.

The ball broke kindly to the Brazilian in the penalty, but with the goal at his mercy, he could only blaze over the crossbar.

However, his persistence eventually paid off as arrived into the six-yard box in time to tap home from Alexander Isak's squared ball.

They managed to hold on to claim a narrow victory against a Southampton side who were reduced to 10-man late on after Duje Caleta-Car received a second yellow card.

Semi-final second leg (January 31): Newcastle 2-1 Southampton

Although Wembley was within their grasp, Newcastle knew that there was still work to be done in the second leg if they were to reach the final.

Any pre-match nerves were settled in the fifth minute when academy graduate Sean Longstaff collect Kieran Trippier's pass before driving the ball into the bottom corner.

Just before the midway point of the first half, Miguel Almiron teed up Longstaff, who made no mistake in guiding home his second goal of the game.

Che Adams managed to pull a goal back in the 29th minute, producing a sublime driven effort from long-range, which raced into the bottom corner.

Guimaraes received an 81st-minute red card for a dangerous tackle on Samuel Edozie, but Newcastle held firm to book their place in an EFL Cup final for the first time since 1976.