With every sinew of energy and effort, Martin Dubravka, the Newcastle United goalkeeper, extended his body to its maximum to his right and thrust out a left arm to tip away the fifth and final penalty, from the Blackburn Rovers captain Dominic Hyam.
It was the decisive moment of a frantic tie. It was also in front of the 7,500 supporters from Tyneside. As Dubravka wheeled away and team-mates ran from the sidelines to join the only part of Ewood Park in joy, Newcastle’s season dramatically came back to life.
It was their first victory in an FA Cup penalty shoot-out. Dubravka had saved from Sammie Szmodics and Harvey Barnes had also been denied by Blackburn’s Aynsley Pears before the pivotal final penalty.
Eddie Howe led his goalkeeper to take the acclaim from the victorious support.
“Martin was magnificent,” the head coach said. “He was touch and go [to play]. He was nowhere near fit for Arsenal and he has not been 100 per cent for a long period of time. He has been feeling ill and he deserves great credit.”
It is not hyperbole to say that Newcastle’s season rested on this result. A Champions League exit at the group stage has been followed by a slump down the Premier League table and a penalty shoot-out exit to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. “A lot was riding on today’s outcome,” Howe said. “The players handled the moment brilliantly. It’s big moment in our season. Our attitude was much better than [in the league defeat by] Arsenal. We were fighting and giving everything.”
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Newcastle had led through Anthony Gordon’s strike in the 71st minute but Blackburn deserved their equaliser by Szmodics eight minutes later. He was excellent. Blackburn were brave. Both goalkeepers produced superb saves in extra time. Pears thwarted Gordon and Sean Longstaff from close range and Dubravka denied Szmodics a second to bring about the shoot-out.
Such drama had seemed improbable earlier on. There had been a 15-minute delay to kick-off because of congestion outside Ewood Park. Perhaps that affected both teams, for there was little sign in the opening moments of just how important this tie was for Blackburn and Newcastle.
“Where did Shearer win the league?” was a regular chant from the End Stand, mocking those from the North East. It was also a reminder of when the two clubs were at the very top of the English game in the mid-1990s. Newcastle have aspirations to return. Blackburn’s supporters have a desire for change.
In the 14th minute 14 tennis balls were thrown on to the pitch in a symbolic protest against 14 years of ownership by Venky’s. It was the first thing of note to happen. Newcastle looked like a fighter in a comeback bout after being knocked out. They have conceded 24 goals in their past ten Premier League games, including a particularly punishing night away to Arsenal on Saturday when they shipped another four.
That has taken its toll on their confidence and belief. Alan Shearer, in the BBC studio at Ewood Park, was critical of the lack of movement Newcastle showed. Blackburn, by contrast, grew into the game and twice came close to taking the lead. Only a fine save from Dubravka, at full stretch, prevented Tyrhys Dolan’s long-range shot from putting Rovers ahead. Szmodics had already struck the side-netting.
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The Blackburn top scorer, with 23 goals this season, then skipped away from Fabian Schär and struck a rising shot that Dubravka tipped over.
Pears’ only real worry had been a Longstaff effort that he kept out with his feet on the half-hour. Blackburn defended with five across the back and protected the centre of the pitch. Newcastle had lacked the penetration to break through in a first half in which Blackburn had four shots to their two.
Newcastle at least found more tempo after the break but Dubravka needed to make another save, to his right, to repel John Buckley’s shot. That seemed to spark the visiting team into life. The game had reached the hour mark when Kieran Trippier sent over a left-wing corner that Jamaal Lascelles headed goalwards at the far post. The header beat Pears and struck the knee of Kyle McFadzean. An almighty goalmouth scramble ensued. The ball was hacked clear. Rovers’ goal remained intact.
Finally Newcastle had momentum. It was the 69th minute when Longstaff produced a superb through-ball that finally split the Blackburn defence. Gordon was through and he took two touches before striking a shot that hit the body of Pears and went out for a corner. Howe put his head in his hands.
Trippier sent over another corner and Longstaff this time met it first and glanced a powerful header wide.
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Howe threw on three substitutes in the 62nd minute. Having replaced the ineffective Jacob Murphy, Miguel Almirón was played through on the Newcastle right in the 71st minute. There was a cutback on to his favoured left foot, a low cross and, in the blink of an eye, Gordon’s first-time effort flew in.
The Newcastle fans had just begun singing about going to Wembley when Blackburn replied. Lascelles made a mess of a long clearance, failing to head the ball out for a throw-in. From there, Arnor Sigurdsson, a substitute, played the ball to Dilan Markanday and it took another excellent save from Dubravka to tip his shot on to the crossbar.
Szmodics was there again to shoot goalwards and Schär, defending in his own goal, could only help the ball on its way. Ewood Park roared. Howe put his hands on his hips and walked dejectedly towards the Newcastle dugout.
A cup upset was stirring but Newcastle, and Dubravka, had the final say.
Blackburn (3-4-2-1): A Pears 7 — D Hyam 6, K McFadzean 7 (B Koumetio 72min, 5), S Wharton 7 — C Brittain 6, J Buckley 7 (J Garrett 64, 6), A Moran 6 (Y Ayari 63, 5), B Chrisene 7 — S Szmodics 8, T Dolan 6 (D Markanday 64, 7) — S Gallagher 6 (A Sigurdsson 46, 7). Booked Ayari.
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Newcastle (4-3-3): M Dubravka 8 — K Trippier 5 (T Livramento 90, 5), J Lascelles 6, F Schär 6, D Burn 6 — S Longstaff 7, B Guimarães 6, J Willock 6 (L Miley 62, 5; E Anderson 116) — J Murphy 4 (M Almirón 62, 7), A Isak 5 (H Barnes 62, 5), A Gordon 7. Booked Lascelles, Longstaff.
Referee J Gillett. Attendance 22,730.
