Newcastle march to Carabao Cup last 16 as Osula and Joelinton star for Howe

Newcastle United advanced to the Carabao Cup last 16 with a 4-1 victory over Bradford City at St James’ Park, a result that keeps alive their long-held hope of lifting a domestic trophy for the first time in 70 years. Eddie Howe’s selection was a show of intent, with an XI stocked full of England and Brazil internationals as the club prioritised a competition they deem crucial for restoring the feel-good factor around a season that has started unevenly in the league. A crowd of 51,706 watched Newcastle’s progression, underscoring how significant a cup run is for a club still absorbing the aftershocks of a summer window that saw Alexander Isak depart only to be replaced by a wily blend of youth and experience. The tie provided a rare moment of clear momentum for Howe and his players as they set their sights on Wembley and the prospect of silverware that could lift the squad and city alike.

Newcastle took control almost immediately. Within 90 seconds, Joelinton found the net from close range after Bruno Guimarães released him with a precise through-ball, signaling the tone of the evening. The opener was followed in the 19th minute by Osula, whose sharp finish after Guimarães again played a direct pass sent him clear, doubled the lead and calmed any early nerves among the home faithful. The Dane’s finish was clinical, a testament to his adaptation and growing confidence in a season where he is still vying for a regular place in the attack.

The second half brought more of the same. Joelinton struck again in the 75th minute, tucking away a well-judged cross from Guimarães after the Brazilian midfielder again pulled the strings in midfield. Osula then completed his brace with a poacher’s finish at the far post four minutes from time, extending the lead to 4-0 and leaving little room for Bradford to mount a threat. Bradford did grab a late consolation when Andy Cook, a Newcastle supporter, came off the bench to smash home a well-worked moment from a set piece, reducing the margin to 4-1 but not altering the sport’s broader narrative of the evening: Newcastle’s second-string and emerging talents had delivered the necessary impact to advance.

If Osula’s two-goal performance suggested a break with the past, the day also showcased a significant tactical development for Howe: Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman were paired at centre-back for the first time, and the partnership held firm for the majority of the match, standing up to Bradford’s attempts to press. The potential of the £70 million defensive pairing was clear, even as Cook’s late strike reminded that the margin for error remains small at every stage of cup competition. The pair’s performance helped Newcastle’s rearguard maintain a fifth clean sheet of the season had Bradford not found a late avenue to goal, underscoring the balance Howe is trying to strike between attacking threat and defensive solidity.

Joelinton’s second goal, a tidy effort from inside the box after a neat layoff from Guimarães, underlined the captain’s influence through the spine of the team. Guimarães was again central to Newcastle’s best moments, his influence in the build-up play consistent with the form that has made him one of the team’s most influential players this season. The 40,000-foot view is that the Germany-based midfielder’s contributions have been pivotal in enabling Newcastle to play with tempo and intent, especially when the match opened up in the second half.

The result is more than a cup tie win; it is a signal about Newcastle’s ambitions in a season where their league form has offered a mixed message. After a summer cloud surrounding Isak’s protracted departure, the team have found a degree of resilience and rhythm in cup competition that could lift confidence across the squad. A single win and just three goals from their opening five league games have not gone unnoticed, and Howe’s squad believes that a run of matches in the Carabao Cup could act as a catalyst for better performances in the Premier League too. The manager indicated that several starters could feature from the off in the upcoming league clash with Arsenal, a sign the Carabao Cup win is being viewed as a stepping stone rather than a distraction.

The win also gives Newcastle something tangible to celebrate after a summer marked by upheaval, and the prospect of Wembley now seems tangible rather than fanciful. After a 70-year drought in domestic silverware, the club’s supporters will have every reason to believe a path to a first trophy in generations is within reach if they can maintain the momentum, manage the squad’s depth, and keep the positive mood around the club intact as the season unfolds. In the immediate term, Howe will relish the opportunity to rotate his squad with the comfort of progress secured, knowing that a successful Cup run could shape the broader arc of Newcastle’s campaign and the expectations of a fanbase hungry for silverware.

As the celebrations subsided, the bigger picture remained clear: this was a step forward in a season where every match is a measure of intent, every cup tie a chance to prove that Newcastle can convert potential into tangible reward. With Wembley a few wins away, Howe’s team will aim to build on the positive elements of this performance, harness the energy of the crowd, and translate cup confidence into consistent league form. The long road to a trophy still lies ahead, but the night at St James’ Park suggested the destination is not merely a dream but a plausible objective for a club that has waited far too long for domestic glory.