Success has been elusive for Newcastle United when it comes to the League Cup.
In the entire history of the competition, United only reaching the semi-final stage twice.
Both times going on to be losing finalists in 1976 and 2023.
Manchester City and Manchester United doing the damage at Wembley.
This is actually now officially the ‘golden era’ for Newcastle United, when it comes to the League Cup.
Since Eddie Howe arrived, Newcastle having been losing finalists, then quarter-finalists, now quarter-finalists again this season, as a minimum.
For anybody looking for positives ahead of facing Brentford on Wednesday night, here’s one.
These are the last 10 Newcastle United home matches in the League Cup:
Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0 (2024/25)
Newcastle 1 AFC Wimbledon 0 (2024/25)
Newcastle 1 Man City 0 (2023/24)
Newcastle 2 Southampton 1 (2022/23)
Newcastle 2 Leicester 0 (2022/23)
Newcastle 1 Bournemouth 0 (2022/23)
Newcastle 0 Crystal Palace 0 NUFC won on penalties (2022/23)
Newcastle 0 Burnley 0 NUFC lost on penalties (2021/22)
Newcastle 1 Blackburn 0 (2020/21)
Newcastle 1 Leicester 1 NUFC lost on penalties (2019/20)
As you can see, since that Steve Bruce defeat on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 2019 against Leicester, Newcastle United have only conceded one goal in their most recent nine home League Cup matches.
Quite remarkable really, that in over 14 hours of League Cup football at St James’ Park, just that goal from Adams in, ironically, the match that confirmed our return to Wembley.