Steve Bruce was there the only time Newcastle played in a League Cup final. It was sufficiently long ago that Bruce, now 60, was a ball boy at Wembley in 1976, so far back that the victors, Manchester City, could go 35 years without a trophy after that and still become the joint most successful club in the competition’s history.
Bruce is in the minority of Newcastle fans, old enough to remember when they actually won a major trophy, in the 1969 Fairs Cup. He is the exception in other respects, the Newcastle supporter managing the club, the one of their own many of the faithful dislike. Last season’s Carabao Cup provided a snapshot of his reign.
Even in reaching the last eight, taking Newcastle close to a first semi-final of any competition for 15 years, their run ended in wretched underachievement that damaged Bruce’s standing. They were dismal in defeat to Brentford, then a Championship side, delivering the sort of lacklustre display that meant there could be no hard-luck story.
And so to another cup campaign that could offer respite from the Premier League or compound problems that have been apparent in the top flight. Newcastle against Burnley is the battle of the pointless, two sides who must deem weekend fixtures against Southampton and Leeds respectively as bigger games.
There is a difference in mentality. Burnley’s dire record in knockout competitions under Sean Dyche — their conquerors include Lincoln, Burton, Accrington and Port Vale — has rarely been an issue. “We have never not shown any importance of the cup competitions,” Dyche said but inquests rarely follow their early exits.
Newcastle have higher expectations. Bruce has to set his sights higher. Both managers will bring in squad players but, considering how stretched Burnley’s resources are, that may make Newcastle favourites.
“We will be making changes because there are a lot of lads who need to play and get some minutes under their belt but we will be very, very strong,” Bruce said. He has ruled out the injured quintet of Martin Dubravka, Karl Darlow, Paul Dummett, Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey.
The fact he is without two goalkeepers, with Dubravka absent for another eight weeks, means he may name four in his 25-man squad for the Premier League after the transfer window closes. Bruce is likely to loan out Matty Longstaff and could give Joe Willock a second home debut after buying the midfielder from Arsenal but lamented an inability to fund further deals.
Newcastle 2 West Ham 4: player ratings
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NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Freddie Woodman - 6: First league start for Magpies and would have been disappointed when Cresswell’s low cross flew straight in. Good stop from Bowen soon after, though. Fine penalty save from Antonio but couldn’t stop Soucek scoring rebound. -
Emil Krafth - 5: Swede played on the right of a back three and needed to work better with Murphy to stop threat of Cresswell. Wastefully shot over after being teed-up by Ritchie just before half-time. -
Ciaran Clark - 6: Enjoyed battles at both ends of pitch with Dawson on crosses. Saw left-footed shot hit side netting and a header fly over in first half. Struggled to contain Antonio after half-time. -
Federico Fernandez - 6: Magpies captain had been solid but couldn’t hold defence together as West Ham took charge in second half. Deflected Soucek strike wide to prevent a fifth goal. -
Jacob Murphy - 6: Rollercoaster day for wingback. Struggled to prevent Cresswell swinging in crosses from the left – but then produced lovely header into corner to put Magpies back in front. Poor challenge on Fornals gifted penalty to Hammers. -
Isaac Hayden - 6: Vital role in front of defence when you’ve got marauding attackers like Almiron and Saint-Maximin looking to bomb on but was outshone by Rice playing similar role for opponents. -
Jonjo Shelvey - 6: Good ball to pick out Wilson, whose backheel effort almost put Newcastle 2-1 up. Booked for rash challenge on Benrahma. Lack of pace is a problem at times. -
Matt Ritchie - 7: Fabulous pulled-back cross to set up Murphy’s goal and put another chance on plate for Krafth that Swede fired over. -
Miguel Almiron - 6: Vital header off the line to deny Coufal scoring just after kick-off, saw deflected strike hit top of bar at other end after 25 minutes. Disappeared in second half. -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 7: Danced around Rice to supply opening goal and a general nightmare to defend against. Can still be frustrating with his final ball and losing possession in key areas - like he did for Benrahma's goal – but keeping him fit will be key to Newcastle’s season. -
Callum Wilson - 7: Goal-poacher’s header from close-range to open scoring after superb run and cross by Saint-Maximin. Had cheeky back-heel saved by Fabianski and clearly relishes being Newcastle’s No 9. -
SUBS: Ryan Fraser – (On for Shelvey 70’) 6: Scottish attacker curled one shot a metre wide of post from distance. -
Sean Longstaff – (On for Krafth 84’) N/A. -
Joelinton – (On for Wilson 84’) N/A. -
WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukasz Fabianski - 6: Tipped deflected Almiron shot onto top of bar in first half. Flat-footed as he watched Murphy’s header sail into the corner for Newcastle's second goal. -
Vladimir Coufal - 7: Thought he’d scored after two minutes but header cleared off line. Relentless surging runs down flank, particularly in second half. -
Craig Dawson - 6: Hands full against Wilson's movement, trickery of Saint-Maximin and Clark on corners - but stuck to task. -
Angelo Ogbonna - 8: Italian defender is rock at back for West Ham and was best defender on pitch at St James’ Park. -
Aaron Cresswell - 7: His crosses from the left were a constant problem for Newcastle and it was Creswell’s low ball into box that flew straight into net to level for Hammers - after VAR review for offside. Costly loss of possession in run-up to Newcastle’s first goal. -
Declan Rice - 8: Wonderful summer with England but turned inside out by Saint-Maximin before Wilson’s opener after five minutes. Important tackle on Frenchman started move for Benrahma goal. Dominated centre of park after break. -
Thomas Soucek - 7: Provided his usual danger in the air and showed great reactions to fire home the third goal after Antonio’s penalty was saved. Almost made it 5-2 but shot was deflected wide. -
Jarrod Bowen - 7: Got touch on Cresswell’s goal but ball had already crossed line, then denied goal by good Woodman stop after a silky run through Newcastle’s defence. Always a threat. -
Said Benrahma - 8: Left Shelvey for dead after 15 minutes but cross into box that followed far too high. Curled shot just wide just before break. Excellent header into bottom corner for Hammers’ second. -
Pablo Fornals - 7: Full of tricks – some coming off, some not – and pulled the strings for West Ham in first half. Caught ball-watching as Murphy headed home for Newcastle. Fouled by Murphy to earn side penalty. -
Michail Antonio - 8: Perfect left-footed cross found Benrahma at back post for second equaliser. Headed against post from point-blank range just before West Ham won penalty, which he then missed – but smacked home fourth goal three minutes later. Equals Paolo di Canio’s record of 47 Premier League goals for Irons. -
SUBS: Ryan Fredericks – (On for Benrahma 89’) N/A. -
Andriy Yarmolenko – (On for Bowen 90’) N/A. -
Ben Johnson – (On for Antonio 90+2’) N/A.
“Most people have been able to trade, but I’ve been unable to do that,” he said. “We haven’t been able to sell. As for bringing somebody in permanently, I can say that’s probably not going to happen.”
Newcastle can be the division’s unhappy continuity club. Supporters wish owner Mike Ashley would sell and many would rather see another manager. Bruce, who has been linked with Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury and is looking into loan deals, wishes he had new players to call upon. And their situation rarely seems to change: with every year, the wait for silverware ticks on.
The list of clubs who have tasted glory since Newcastle last did includes Wigan and Wimbledon, Oxford and Luton, Swansea and Stoke, Coventry and Portsmouth. Newcastle’s last FA Cup final was in 1999; since then, Bruce has taken Hull there.
Under Ashley, infamously, cups were not a priority. Bruce’s rhetoric has been different. “If Hull is capable of getting to a final and maintaining its Premier League status, then a club like this can too, surely?” he asked in 2019. “You only have to win four or five games to get there.” But, time and again, that has proved beyond Newcastle.
