The tension will be palpable across Tyneside on Tuesday as Newcastle United embark on 90 minutes of football that could end with them reaching a first cup final this century.
Eddie Howe's side hold a narrow 1-0 advantage going into the League Cup semi-final second leg at St James' Park, courtesy of Joelinton's winner at St Mary's Stadium.
Newcastle have only appeared in the League Cup final once before, when they lost to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in 1976. This season's semi-final charge is only the second time the club has even made the last four.
In 1998 and 1999 they were back at the old Wembley for dispiriting successive FA Cup final defeats, against Arsenal and then Manchester United.
Cup runs where put firmly on the back-burner under previous owner Mike Ashley, whose controversial reign saw the club relegated from the Premier League twice and never get beyond the quarter-finals of any knockout competition.
But the arrival of a Saudi Arabian-led consortium in October 2021 – and the appointment of Howe as manager soon after – had the almost immediate effect of galvanising a club that had long accepted top-flight survival as the sole barometer of success.
Newcastle were on the up at last. The previous season's surge from relegation battle to mid-table security was built on a mix of successful new signings – such as Kieran Tripper, Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes – gelling alongside old squad members – like Fabian Schar, Jonjo Shelvey and Joelinton – whose careers were revitalised under Howe.
More arrivals followed in the summer with the likes of goalkeeper Nick Pope and centre-half Sven Botman strengthening the team again – but even the most optimistic of Newcastle fans could not have expected what came next.
Southampton 0 Newcastle 1: Player ratings
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SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Gavin Bazunu 7: Left with bloody nose after first-half collision with Almiron. No shots on target until just before half-time when he saved well from Willock. No chance with goal. Rounded by Isak late on but did enough to push attacker wide of goal. Getty -
Kyle Walker-Peters 7: Started at right-back and had his hands full dealing with Willock’s surging runs in first half, in which he was also booked for delaying free-kick. Came much more into game as attacking threat in second half. Became final member of Saints back four to pick up booking. Reuters -
Lyanco 7: Brazilian defender helped keep Wilson very quiet and played well at heart of Southampton defence. Booked for pushing over countryman Guimaraes. Reuters -
Duje Caleta-Car 4: Croatian defender booked for cynical late challenge on Almiron just before half-hour mark. Left for dead by Isak ahead of Joelinton’s goal. Shown second yellow for bringing down Saint-Maximin. Reuters -
Mohammed Salisu 8: Vital interception on Longstaff with Newcastle midfielder poised to shoot in 11th minute and produced another to block Wilson after Bazunu had saved from Willock. AFP -
Amad Diallo 8: Very tidy in midfield, broke play up well and nice distribution for midfielder on loan from Manchester United. PA -
Carlos Alcaraz 7: Making his first start since moving from Argentine side Racing Club, but picked up first booking after little over half-an-hour for pulling back Guimaraes. Dipping drive from distance almost caught out Pope. Reuters -
Moussa Djenepo 5: Scored in shock win over Manchester City in previous round, but seemed to be focus of his manager Nathan Jones’ frustrations here. Flicks not coming off, holding on to ball too long and was then wiped out by Pope challenge and came off with concussion in first-half injury-time. Reuters -
James Ward-Prowse 6: Playing higher up the pitch under new manager but couldn’t get any time on ball in opening 45 minutes where Newcastle dominated possession. More into the game second half. Usual dead-ball nightmare for opposition. Getty -
Mislav Orsic 5: Croatian winger making his Saints debut but found himself up against the meanest defence in the Premier League and barely got a kick. Getty -
Sekou Mara 5: The other goalscorer against Man City never had sniff of goal until five minutes into second half – but that was spectacular over-head kick that went well wide. Got little joy out of Schar or Botman. Reuters -
SUBS: Adam Armstrong (On for Djenepo 45+3’) 6: Early introduction due to Djenepo concussion for former Newcastle attacker. Good attacking run just before the hour to beat Burn but shot high and wide. Thought he’d levelled for Saints but disallowed for handball. Getty -
Che Adams (On for Mara 57’) 6: Found himself clean through not long after coming on but denied by boot of Pope. Then had shot on turn saved by Newcastle keeper. Getty -
Samuel Edozie (On for Orsic 57’) 7: Caused Newcastle, and Trippier in particular, problems after coming on. Getty -
Romeo Lavia (On for Diallo 82’) N/A. PA Jan Bednarek (On for Walker-Peters 88’) N/A. -
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Nick Pope 8: First save came just before break from dipping Alcaraz strike that bounced just in front of keeper. Two good stops from substitute Adams after break and yet another clean-sheet. PA -
Kieran Trippier 7: Brilliant exchange of passes with Almiron before sending over perfect cross that Willock ballooned over bar. Found substitute Edozie a handful and was booked for second foul on flying Saints attacker. Reuters -
Fabian Schar 8: Looked like his night be finishing early due to knock on knee but able to carry on and produce the sort of quality defensive performance that he has throughout this season so far. Reuters -
Sven Botman 7: Another game without defeat, another clean sheet for Dutch defender. Side-footed chance into side netting as Newcastle piled on pressure at start of second half. Reuters -
Dan Burn 7: Left-back immense again for his home-town club and the Newcastle back-four continues to be very hard break down. Getty -
Bruno Guimaraes 8: Seemed like Brazilian was everywhere. Tracking back and offering protection to defenders, setting up attacks at other end of pitch. In the thick of a few fracas with Southampton players after break. AP -
Sean Longstaff 7: Flashed inviting low balls across six-yard box in opening few minutes. Blasted glorious chance over bar just after break, a familiar sight for Magpies fans in recent games. Great engine, shame he has no composure in front of goal. PA -
Joe Willock 6: Sent woeful finish high over bar after two minutes, then did the same half-an-hour later with first-time volley. Much better finish saved by Bazunu at end of his won surging run just before break. AFP -
Joelinton 7: Had ball in net five minutes before break but disallowed for handball, then somehow managed to put very easy chance over bar from few metres out just after break. Redemption arrived when he side-footed home in 73rd minute. Reuters -
Miguel Almiron 8: Paraguayan’s pace and partnership with Trippier caused Saints plenty of problems. Two fantastic runs and balls into box at start of second half that should have resulted in goals for Longstaff and Joelinton – but both fired over. Reuters -
Callum Wilson 4: Without a goal since October and never looked like changing that here. Only touched ball 15 times, looks off the pace and short of confidence. AFP -
SUBS: Alexander Isak (On for Wilson 57’) 7: Fine run down right before putting chance on plate for Joelinton to score. Rounded keeper in injury-time but could only shoot into side-netting from very tight angle. Reuters -
Allan Saint-Maximin (On for Willock 57’) 7: Massive impact after coming on with trademark runs causing chaos in opposition defence. Newcastle have not seen much of that this season and will be hoping to see much more of it next couple of months. Getty -
Jacob Murphy (On for Almiron 78’) N/A. Fired one shot into side netting. Reuters
A year on from the threat of relegation, the Mapgies sit third in the league – having lost one game all season, with the meanest defence in the top-flight – and are one victory away from their first final at a now rebuilt Wembley.
Another of the squad's old school has seen his form hit new highs under the guidance of Howe. Before this season, the most goals Paraguayan attacker Miguel Almiron had managed in a season was eight – he has nine already, although the last of those came against Leicester City on December 26.
And the new signings keep coming. On Sunday, Anthony Gordon completed his £45 million move from Everton, with the 21-year-old winger giving Newcastle a fresh attacking option.
Gordon, who left the struggling Merseysiders under a cloud after missing training trying to force through a move to Tyneside, will be in the stands watching his new teammates attempt to overcome Southampton.
“Anthony has the passion that our fans will feed off but he will have to earn that support,” said Howe on Monday. "He’s a young player with huge potential to have a big impact on our season. He’s very quick, very dynamic and he’s versatile. He can give us something different.
“But the best is yet to come from him; we’re going to have to support and guide Anthony through his move. Certainly I was very impressed by the person I met yesterday. He handled himself really well.”
Heading for the St James' park exit, meanwhile, is midfielder Shelvey, who was having a medical with Nottingham Forest on Monday potentially bringing an end to his seven-year spell in the North East. He will become the second Newcastle player to move to the City Ground this month after striker Chris Wood.
One player who will definitely not be leaving is Allan Saint-Maximin, according to Howe, despite the French attacker struggling for game time this season and recently being linked with a move to Italian side AC Milan.
When asked whether Saint-Maximin could also be on his way out, Howe insisted: “Absolutely not. He is here to stay, and is an integral part of my team.”
But while there could also be potential loan moves for midfielders Conor Gallagher and Sander Berge – at Chelsea and Sheffield United, respectively – ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline, Howe's focus remains very much on the League Cup.
“I’ve drilled it into the players that this tie is by no means over,” he said, as Newcastle aim to move a step closer to their first domestic silverware since the 1955 FA Cup.
“It’s very much in the balance. We’re going to need a top performance. It’s going to be difficult. I don’t think it will make or break our season but it’s a potentially season-defining game.”
