5 mins Jonjo Shelvey surrendered possession in midfield and County's Scott Twine pinged a fabulous effort from 30 yards off the Newcastle crossbar. The rebound fell to Tristan Abrahams, who managed a scuffed side-footed shot on goal that Emil Krafth inexplicably turned his back on.

For reasons only Mark Gillespie can explain, the goalkeeper managed to push that into the roof of his net when it appeared he had time to shuffle across, bend down and catch the ball. Any sympathetic analysis of the replays for an unkind bobble were in vain: There smply wasn't one. 1-0

Half time: Exiles 1 Magpies 0

87 mins Substitute Joelinton played the ball into Jonjo Shelvey on the left edge of the Newport box and he took a touch before unleashing a wonderful shot that curled over the 'keeper and into the far corner. 1-1

Full time: Exiles 1 Magpies 1

Shootout:

Wilson scores 1-0
Demetriou scores 1-1
Joelinton saved 1-1
Abrahams scores 1-2
Schar scores 2-2
Sheehan scores 2-3
Shelvey scores 3-3
Taylor saved 3-3
Murphy scores 4-3
Dolan scores 4-4
S.Longstaff scores 5-4
Cooper misses 5-4

Newcastle win 5-4

Exiles boss Michael Flynn said: 

"It's a tough way to lose but I'm proud of my team, I thought the boys were absolutely superb.

"But one bit of magic levelled the tie and that happens when you give Premier League players that amount of space.

"I am very proud. I couldn’t be prouder if I tried. We were excellent.

“I know they had chances, but I thought we were brilliant and defended superbly. I’m a realist and I won’t get carried away. I know if we had won it would have been a massive, massive upset.

"The players Newcastle brought on was a big compliment to us and they did have a fair bit of possession, but we kept our shape and composure.

"It’s easy to say now, but we should have gone in further ahead.

"It’s been a bugbear of mine we’re not killing teams off, but they are a great group and we will stick together.”

Newcastle advanced to the Quarter Final stage of the League Cup on Wednesday for only the ninth time in six decades of trying - but Steve Bruce's side did it the hard way against their League Two hosts.

United seldom looked like cancelling out a fifth minute effort from Tristan Abrahams until a fine solo strike from Jonjo Shelvey drew them level with just three minutes of normal time remaining at Rodney Parade.

The Magpies then almost won it in the final seconds of six added minutes when a shot from Federico Fernandez was blocked on the line and the follow-up hit a defender.

That meant the tie needed to be settled on penalties, but for once Newcastle avoided their usual spot kick humiliation and squeezed through 5-4.

United goalkeeper Mark Gillespie saved one of Newport's initial five spot kicks, while Callum Wilson, Fabian Schar, Shelvey, Jacob Murphy and Sean Longstaff all netted for the visitors.

Our 100% record from 12 yards was spoiled by a an overly-casual Joelinton effort that was easily stopped by Nick Townsend in the Exiles goal.

Meanwhile, the sight of Shelvey stepping up to take one caused alarm across the Geordie nation - having failed in each of our last two shootouts (Hull in 2016 and Leicester in 2019). Thankfully though he squeezed his effort just inside a post this time round.

The twelfth penalty of the tie was then blasted high over the empty away end by Swansea City loanee Brandon Cooper, handing Newcastle a place in the Quarter Final draw.

Having beaten a trio of Football League sides to reach this point though, United will have to markedly improve if a first Semi-Final spot since 1976 is to come their way in late December.

The match statistics show that the top flight side had the lion's share of possession and chances, but that fails to highlight another laboured display when basic proficiency was lacking.

And for all Bruce's bluster about the alleged quality of cup fighters Newport, United's problems were mostly of their own making - the home side only once seriously threatening a second goal (in first half added time) and for the most part defending in depth.

Given every opportunity to take the initiative, we looked clueless and bemused for the most part against a side who may have been less timid than Newport but lacked the partisan crowd and the clarty pitch that characterised previous headline-making cup exploits. 

The total failure of Andy Carroll to lead the line effectively for an hour raises more questions about the value of having him in the squad; fit but lacking any legal threat.

(He did leave two home players laid out on the pitch at one point during the second half in a manner reminiscent of Billy Whitehurst against Everton half a lifetime ago....) 

Jacob Murphy again looked lively and the majority of our shooting chances fell to him, some wide, some blocked. At least he didn't seem to think that the opposition box was part of the local lockdown area though.

When all seemed lost and our crosses had been as woeful as our set pieces, Shelvey jockeyed inside the Newport box for an angle to shoot then unfurled a wonderful curler into the far corner. Until that point though, he had done little to justify leaving him on the field.

And so another Newcastle United cup run continues in similar fashion to last season's stuttering FA Cup one, with significant dollops of good fortune.

That came to a juddering halt when we were paired with a proper team and there's no reason to suspect that a strong dose of reality doesn't loom large this time round when the balls are juggled on Thursday.

Biffa