Newcastle are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after a thrilling penalty shoot-out win over Blackburn saved their season at Ewood Park.
Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka saved two spot-kicks in the shoot-out following a 1-1 draw in normal time, including the crucial penalty from Rovers captain Dominic Hyam.
Anthony Gordon’s goal had given Newcastle the lead but Eddie Howe’s side were pegged back by Sammie Szmodics and his late equaliser.
Both teams had chances to win the match in extra time, but Newcastle kept their nerve in the shoot-out to keep their hopes of winning a first FA Cup trophy since 1955 alive.
Follow live updates from Blackburn vs Newcastle in tonight’s live blog below – while you can get the latest FA Cup odds and tips, here.
FULL TIME! Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle (Newcastle win 4-3 on penalties)
Newcastle’s season could still be very special, Eddie Howe had said. Their performance was not but the hope of a first trophy since 1969, of some major silverware since Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, was preserved courtesy of something special by Martin Dubravka.
Even as he has made a string of saves, the Slovakian’s spell deputising for the injured Nick Pope has been a traumatic one. He has conceded 30 goals in 16 games. That number could have risen considerably at Ewood Park. Instead, Dubravka capped a display of heroics over 120 minutes with twin stops in the penalty shootout, denying first Blackburn’s scorer Sammie Szmodics and then their captain Dom Hyam. When the defender’s spot kick was tipped on to the post, and Fabian Schar, Bruno Guimaraes, Elliot Anderson and Anthony Gordon had scored their own, to compensate for Harvey Barnes’ miss, Newcastle were FA Cup quarter-finalists.
They took the long route and did it the hard way in a match that finished some 70 minutes later than it might, first because kick-off was delayed, then because extra-time and penalties were required. Newcastle’s display was scarcely the required reaction to their evisceration at Arsenal; they could have had few complaints if they were eliminated by a bottom-half Championships side. Yet penalties, which proved their undoing in the Carabao Cup, resulted in salvation. They live to fight another day and the choruses were either of Dubravka’s name or of Wembley.
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 23:17
Eddie Howe, speaking to the BBC: “I think there is only one emotion and that is relief. I think it was a hard-fought cup tie. Both sides gave everything to get the win and didn’t give an inch but we are delighted to be in the hat for the next round.
“They packed the backline and packed the midfield so it was difficult for us to penetrate them. It could have been better but we got that first goal and it was a really well-worked goal.
“The most important thing is that our season cracks on and we are thrilled to get through to the next round.”
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 23:14
FULL TIME! Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle (Newcastle win 4-3 on penalties)
When is the FA Cup quarter-final draw?
The draw is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at around 7pm GMT, 30 minutes before Chelsea face Leeds on ITV4.
Ball numbers for quarter-final draw
1 Newcastle United
2 Chelsea or Leeds United
3 Leicester City
4 Liverpool or Southampton
5 Nottingham Forest or Manchester United
6 Wolverhampton Wanderers or Brighton & Hove Albion
7 Coventry City
8 Manchester City
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 23:00
FULL TIME! Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle (Newcastle win 4-3 on penalties)
Alan Shearer reacts to Newcastle’s victory, on BBC One: “It is a massive result for Newcastle and Eddie Howe. They needed this. It’s pretty worrying that it didn’t look like they had energy, but that might galvanise them and give them a bit of hope. It is a huge, huge win.
“They’ve had some really tough draws in the Cups this year, so who knows? Dubravka has been their best player. He [ulled off some fantastic saves and then made those two saves in the penalty shootout.”
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 22:59
FULL TIME! Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle (Newcastle win 4-3 on penalties)
The moment Newcastle reached the quarter-finals!
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 22:57
FULL TIME! Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle (Newcastle win 4-3 on penalties)
Scenes.
You can see how much this means to Newcastle.
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 22:51
FULL TIME! Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle (Newcastle win 4-3 on penalties)
Newcastle are through to the quarter-finals and they keep their season and hopes of winning a first trophy since 1955 alive!
That is so, so big for Eddie Howe and his players and they have Martin Dubravka to thank for his saves in the shoot-out and extra time.
Either team could have won that. A proper cup tie and a thriller!
Guimaraes is topless and giving it the big one to the away fans.
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 22:46
PENALTIES! Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle
Dominic Hyam, the Blackburn captain…
DUBRAVKA SAVES!
NEWCASTLE SURVIVE AND ARE THROUGH!
Blackburn: ❌✔️✔️✔️❌
Newcastle: ✔️❌✔️✔️✔️
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 22:45
PENALTIES! Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle
Anthony Gordon for Newcastle… down the middle! Pears went early.
Sudden death for Blackburn now…
Blackburn: ❌✔️✔️✔️
Newcastle: ✔️❌✔️✔️✔️
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 22:44
PENALTIES! Blackburn 1-1 Newcastle
Yasin Ayari for Blackburn… the 20-year-old… skips to the spot and sends Dubravka the wrong way!
Blackburn: ❌✔️✔️✔️
Newcastle: ✔️❌✔️✔️
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2024 22:43
