Newcastle United have reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals following a 1-0 success over Bournemouth at St. James' Park this evening.
An own goal by Adam Smith midway through the second half was enough to see Newcastle progress.
With victory, Eddie Howe's side have picked up where they left off before the World Cup, as the Magpies had won six consecutive matches before the mid-season break.
Meanwhile, for Bournemouth, it was not the start Gary O'Neil was hoping for in his first match as permanent manager, following a promising start as caretaker boss.
Newcastle started the match with all of their key stars who featured at the World Cup, including Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes, but it was their two English internationals who made the biggest impact.
Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson were involved in most good things Newcastle produced, and the latter thought he had put his side ahead just before the hour mark before a very late offside flag denied Wilson after he found the back of the net.
Bournemouth were rather toothless for much of the game, having registered just one shot after 60 minutes, and deservedly fell behind with a quarter of the match remaining, when Smith awkwardly diverted Trippier's cross into his own goal.
It was a goal that was on the cards given the mounting pressure put on Bournemouth by Newcastle as the game went on, but from the point of view of the Cherries, it was a very avoidable and frustrating way to go behind.
Barely five minutes later, Chris Mepham was fortunate not to have put through his own net as well, as goalkeeper Mark Travers was left stranded when he diverted a cross towards the Bournemouth goal.
The visitors had a few threatening moments towards the end, but Nick Pope was on hand to save his side on more than one occasion, while Allan Saint-Maximin looked lively in stoppage time to confirm the win for the hosts, but 1-0 is how the game finished, sending Newcastle through to the last eight.
Newcastle are next in action on Boxing Day when the Premier League returns, with Howe's men travelling to Leicester City as they hope to maintain their spot in the top four.
Bournemouth have a tricky task ahead of them when they go to the capital to face Chelsea a day later, but Stamford Bridge is a ground they have remarkably won at three times in their four Premier League visits.
Andrew Delaney
