Newcastle 3-1 Brentford
by Roger Domeneghetti
at St James’ Park

SANDRO TONALI was the star of the show as Newcastle brushed aside Brentford to secure a place in the League Cup semi-finals for the second time in three seasons.

It was the Italian’s best performance for Newcastle since he scored just six minutes into his debut, against Aston Villa, way back in August last year.

That promise never had the chance to come into fruition as he spent 10 of the intervening 16 months serving a ban for breaching betting regulations and since his return, Tonali had looked unsettled, struggling to recapture his early form.

The build-up to this game had seen the Italian media suggesting that Tonali wanted to return home, perhaps to his beloved AC Milan, perhaps to Juventus, rumours dismissed by both his agent, and manager, Eddie Howe.

Tonali himself did his talking on the pitch with a dominant performance, aggressive and intelligent in equal measure.

“Sandro’s a big signing, and you want your big signings to settle well. He’s been here a long time but had very little football,” said Howe.

“Nights like tonight will secure that bond with the fans. I’m really pleased for him.”

Newcastle, unchanged from the team that put four past Leicester at the weekend, came out at full speed, giving their opponents little time to settle. They were looking for revenge after the 4-2 reverse at Brentford just 11 days before.

After eight minutes, the early pressure told as Tonali hammered home a low, rasping drive from the edge of the area.

It looked as if Brentford might get blown away, especially after Nathan Pinnock was forced off with an injury after 14 minutes. But slowly, they played their way back into the game.

That is until Tonal grabbed his second just before the break, ghosting into the box unmarked to half volley Anthony Gordon’s corner into the net.

Any lingering doubt was put to bed in the 69th minute, when Mark Flekken spilled Lewis Hall’s shot and Bruno Guimaraes crossed the loose ball to Fabian Schar for an easy tap home.

Yoane Wissa grabbed a late consolation in stoppage time, but it was far too little, far too late.

“On the day, we met a better team than us. We lost fair and square,” said Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

But he was magnanimous in defeat, backing to Newcastle to lift the trophy.

“It’s time for a change, I think it would mean more to the Newcastle fans to win.”