Tranmere 1-2 Newcastle: Chris Wood heads Toon into Carabao Cup third round after early scare from Elliott Nevitt... with Eddie Howe sending on £140MILLION worth of subs to turn tie around
- Newcastle United avoided a potential banana skin in Carabao Cup round two
- The League Two strugglers took the lead at Prenton Park through Elliott Nevitt
- Eddie Howe's side drew level just before half-time through Jamaal Lascelles
- Chris Wood put Newcastle in front seven minutes after half-time to make it 2-1
Times are changing at Newcastle and nothing illustrated that more than Eddie Howe's substitutions to secure progress in a competition the club's old owners used to deride.
A lengthy cup run in the Carabao Cup is a prime objective for Howe this season and that much was obvious as he introduced talent worth £140million - Sven Botman, Joeltinon, Bruno Guimares and Jamal Lewis - to keep the persistent challenge of League Two Tranmere Rovers at bay.
The gap between the clubs in the pyramid is 78 places but it never felt so pronounced at Prenton Park and it was only when Kieran Tripper replaced Emil Krafth that Newcastle recovered their poise and stopped wobbling.
![Chris Wood sealed Newcastle's comeback win at Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/21/61697817-0-image-a-16_1661372042205.jpg)
Chris Wood sealed Newcastle's comeback win at Tranmere Rovers in the Carabao Cup
![Jamaal Lascelles (left) had pulled Newcastle level after they made a sluggish start in this tie](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/21/61697117-0-image-a-15_1661372035609.jpg)
Jamaal Lascelles (left) had pulled Newcastle level after they made a sluggish start in this tie
![Elliott Nevitt punished the Premier League visitors when he fired League Two Tranmere ahead](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/21/61697107-0-image-a-14_1661372032384.jpg)
Elliott Nevitt punished the Premier League visitors when he fired League Two Tranmere ahead
Poor Krafth left the field on a stretcher with a knee injury that Howe said 'did not look good' but that blow was softened by Trippier, whose precise deliveries and exemplary understanding of situations enabled Newcastle to set up a third round date with Crystal Palace.
'Kieran showed his class and that level is what he is capable of,' Howe purred about his January addition from Atletico Madrid. 'He is just the ultimate professional.'
These sides once conjured up one of only three games in English football history that finished 6-6, in the now defunct ZDS Cup in October 1991, and while a similar scoreline was never likely, the locals were hoping for a similar outcome, as Tranmere progressed 3-2 back then on penalties.
![Two fans catch a glimpse of the pitch at Prenton Park through one of the fences up high](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/21/61697125-0-image-a-17_1661372052377.jpg)
Two fans catch a glimpse of the pitch at Prenton Park through one of the fences up high
![Eddie Howe (left) shuffled his pack but saw his new-look team make a very sluggish start](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/21/61697105-0-image-a-18_1661372055631.jpg)
Eddie Howe (left) shuffled his pack but saw his new-look team make a very sluggish start
![Nevitt got the better of Newcastle's defence and he was on hand to slot in the opening goal](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/21/61697115-0-image-a-19_1661372064558.jpg)
Nevitt got the better of Newcastle's defence and he was on hand to slot in the opening goal
They were right to dream. Big nights under the lights don't come around that often here now and there was a determination that this contest would not as FA Cup ties against Tottenham (0-7, January 2019) and Manchester United (0-6, January 2020) had done.
Tranmere, with their enthusiastic manager Mickey Mellon constantly cajoling, gave it their all and deservedly took the lead in the 21st minute when wing-back Josh Dacres-Cogley zipped onto a through ball and squared for Elliott Nevitt, who held off Jamal Lascelles to finish.
It was only when Trippier was introduced that things began to change. The England international's first contribution, seconds after coming on, was clipping in a free-kick that resulted in Ritchie winning a corner. His next touch was the resultant set piece that Lascelles finished.
Lascelles seemed to be in the thick of the action all the time, needing treatment frequently after taking a bang to his nose, but he relished the rough and tumble of it all, wheeling away with arms aloft when his volley ripped into the net. Tranmere, though, felt aggrieved.
'There was a blatant block (in the build-up),' Mellon hissed.
'It's schoolboy stuff and the referee has not even seen it. We needed everything to go right to get a result but that did not happen. I'm proud of my boys.'
Once they had restored parity, it seemed inevitable that Newcastle would wear Tranmere down and so it proved when Trippier slung in a 52nd minute corner and Chris Wood arrived, powerfully, to produce a thumping header that delighted the travelling fans in the 'cowshed' end.
'It was hard fought and competitive and we needed to match them,' said Howe. 'We have got to be able to do all sides of the game.'
![One photographer captured the stunning scene of the sun setting during the contest](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/21/61697143-0-image-a-20_1661372067450.jpg)
One photographer captured the stunning scene of the sun setting during the contest
![The disappointment for Newcastle on the night was that Emil Krafth had to leave on a stretcher](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/21/61697123-0-image-a-21_1661372075222.jpg)
The disappointment for Newcastle on the night was that Emil Krafth had to leave on a stretcher
![In the end the travelling Newcastle support were able to cheer trophy hopes being kept alive](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/24/21/61697857-0-image-a-22_1661372093467.jpg)
In the end the travelling Newcastle support were able to cheer trophy hopes being kept alive
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