Newcastle 2-1 Southampton (Agg: 3-1): Sean Longstaff scores twice as Eddie Howe's side reach League Cup final

Newcastle reached their first League Cup final since 1976 as Sean Longstaff's brace secured a 2-1 semi-final second-leg win over Southampton, and 3-1 victory on aggregate.

Eddie Howe's side started in the best possible manner, with hometown hero Longstaff putting them ahead after just five minutes.

Kieran Trippier managed to slip in the onrushing Longstaff who was able to smash his effort low and hard past Gavin Bazunu.

The hosts continued to pour forward in search of a second goal and after 21 minutes they found exactly that. Joelinton and Joe Willock combined brilliantly on the left-hand side before Miguel Almiron was able to fire a cross into a dangerous area and Longstaff was once again on hand to smash home his second of the match.

Southampton looked shell shocked, with Newcastle playing the ball around at an electric tempo, but in the 29th minute Nathan Jones' side had one back against the run of play, Che Adams capitalised on a loose pass at the back before rifling home a brilliant effort from distance. It was a goal which sparked the life back into Southampton who until that point had been complete passengers.

From that point on, Southampton who at 2-0 looked dead and buried, were transformed. Nathan Jones' men continued to push forward in an attempt to grab an equaliser.

The away side came out for the second half in the same way they ended the first, completely dominating possession but without creating too much in the way of clear-cut opportunities. The Newcastle defence retreated deeper and deeper in a bid to frustrate their opposition.

Adam Armstrong spurned a huge chance to equalise on the night 20 minutes from time, substitute Romeo Lavia played a delightful ball through the heart of the Newcastle defence to set Armstrong away in a one-v-one. The former Newcastle man opted to try and lift the ball over Nick Pope as opposed to going around the goalkeeper and saw his effort saved well by Pope.

Newcastle talisman Bruno Guimaraes was shown a straight red card 10 minutes from time for an awful tackle on Samuel Edozie. The Brazilian was initially shown a yellow card but it was quickly overturned following a VAR check. There didn't look to be any malice in the challenge which was a late one, but Edozie was lucky to not have done serious damage to his ankle.

Southampton continued to push late into the game but to no avail as Newcastle booked their place in the League Cup final against either Manchester United or Nottingham Forest.

The celebrations at full-time at St James' Park tell you everything you need to know about how long Newcastle have waited for a major trophy. Their supporters are in dreamland this season, third in the Premier League with their sights set on a Champions League place and now they are into their first League Cup final since 1976. Eddie Howe has his side one win away from winning the competition for the first time in the clubs history. The Newcastle manager has spoken in the past about wanting to create history at the club and build a team that supporters will remember forever - the best way for him to do that is to win Newcastle their first domestic trophy since 1955.

A dream come true for Sean Longstaff - the local lad who made the difference and sent his side into the League Cup final. He took both of his goals extremely well, especially for a player not renowned for his goalscoring prowess. His energy was infectious, he worked hard putting in tackles, making interceptions, blocking shots and on the ball he was superb too. His progressive passing moved Newcastle up the pitch and into dangerous areas and he rarely put a foot wrong tonight.

Newcastle United: Pope 7, Trippier 7, Schar 7, Botman 7, Burn 7, Longstaff 9, Guimaraes 6, Willock 7, Almiron 7, Wilson 7, Joelinton 7 Subs: Murphy 6, Isak 6, Saint-Maximin 6, Anderson N/A, Lascelles N/A

Southampton: Bazunu 7, Walker-Peters 6, Salisu 7, Bednarek 7, Lyanco 6, Bree 6, Ward-Prowse 6, Diallo 6, Alcaraz 6, Adams 7, Armstrong 6 Subs: Lavia 7, Aribo 6, Perraud 6, Edozie 6, Mara 6

5' GOAL- NEWCASTLE UNITED - Newcastle have taken the lead already! Kieran Trippier finds Sean Longstaff in the box and he smashes it low and hard past Bazunu to give Newcastle a BIG lead.

21' GOAL - NEWCASTLE UNITED - A superb team goal gives Newcastle a 2-0 lead and gives Longstaff his second of the night! Joelinton and Joe Willock combine brilliantly on the left-hand side, the ball is then fired across by Miguel Almiron and Sean Longstaff is on hand to thump it home.

29' GOAL - SOUTHAMPTON - Nathan Jones' side have one back! Che Adams with a stunner from distance - what a finish. He latches onto a short pass before lashing it home into the bottom corner.

72' BIG CHANCE FOR ARMSTRONG! - That was a huge chance for Southampton, Romeo Lavia plays a pass right through the heart of the Newcastle defence and Armstrong tries to lift it over Pope but the goalkeeper saves. What a chance.

75' BIG CHANCES FOR NEWCASTLE! - Sean Longstaff has an effort saved by Bazunu and Isak has his effort saved just seconds after. That would have killed off the tie.

82' RED CARD - NEWCASTLE UNITED Bruno Guimaraes is sent off for high tackle on Edozie.

Nick Pope conceded his first goal in any competition since November 6th - also against Southampton (Romain Perraud).

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