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Newcastle United escaped great embarrassment in Wales after leaving it late against Newport County.
If the previous round against Morecambe had been very easy, this draw was the complete opposite and even after Jonjo Shelvey tied with just three minutes to force a penalty shootout, the Magpies almost made a mess at Rodney Parade.
Joelinton’s miss on the penalty shoot-out was canceled by a save by Mark Gillespie, who denied Ryan Taylor, before Brandon Cooper’s ardent effort saved United’s blushes.
Callum Wilson, Fabian Schar, Jacob Murphy, Sean Longstaff and Shelvey all succeeded from the spot to reserve a spot in the quarterfinals, but Newcastle did a tough job.
They recorded their first shot on goal with just two minutes left, but Longstaff’s effort flew over the bar.
Newport then surprised its most illustrious visitors by taking the lead after a 25-yard shot from Scott Twine slammed off the crossbar before Tristan Abrahams swooped in and the ball went through Mark Gillespie’s fingers with five minutes remaining.
United responded with a Jacob Murphy cross, but no one connected at the front or rear post.
Murphy then forced Newport stopper Nick Townsend to make a save when he tapped the ball over the bar at the near post from another attack from the right.
Murphy looked the most likely again in the 22nd minute when he rattled off a low shot that Townsend parried at the bottom, but no one followed.
Seconds later, Murphy again tried his luck and surprisingly, his saved effort was left for Newport to clear its lines again.
Newport won a free kick outside the area in the 28th minute, but Dolan’s free kick narrowly missed.
Just before the break Javier Manquillo waved a ball into Liam Shephard’s area before
Padraig Amond hit one over the bar.
Bruce resisted the opportunity to make changes at halftime, but was presented with two good chances in 53 minutes.
Sean Longstaff’s thin low over the top of Fraser seemed to have unlocked Newport’s defense, but the keeper was quick to block.
Moments later, Miguel Almirón followed but ruined the opportunity at the edge of the area.
Newport threatened a second goal just before the scheduled time when they forced a corner before Amond headed wide.
Bruce’s final change raised his eyebrows when he introduced Fabian Schar to replace Krafth with his team fighting for their lives in the League Cup.
With 15 minutes to go, Murphy found space at the edge of the box, but curled up off the post.
Newcastle’s lack of composure and conscientiousness was visible to all in the second half.
First, Manquillo hit a ridiculously heavy cross into the box that went high and wide before a Fraser error moments later.
With nine minutes to go, Joelinton played on Fraser, but his marker hit him when he needed to shoot first.
Fraser then crossed for Murphy, but the ball bounced off him and fell to the safety of the goalkeeper’s arms.
But with three minutes to go, Shelvey finally got close to the plate for United.
He started and finished one play after playing in the 40 million pound sub Joelinton left.
He then dropped his shoulder to play with Ryan Taylor before putting the Newport man on the floor and then snuggling home with a wonderful punch.
Perhaps Shelvey felt the criticism on social media during a torrid exertion before hand while cupping his ears before running past the media on the stand.
But the goal can rightly be described as brilliant, Gazza-style, or even more so at home at Camp Nou than in Newport, because it is not the first time the former England midfielder has delivered something special.
After Murphy bit back on Townsend’s hands, Shelvey could have won it in stoppage time, but couldn’t convert another Murphy center.
The magpies should have completed the job in regulation time with Murphy and then Longstaff watching the blocked shots before the referee called for a penalty shoot-out.
Joelinton’s failure aside, United held firm to stage a knockout clash in December, but it could have been a lot worse for Bruce and his players with critics already waiting in a neat queue once again.
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