**Wednesday 28th August**
**Nottingham Forest 1 Newcastle United 1 (Newcastle United win 4-3 on penalties)**
"There is a big feeling of relief, as we knew the game was important," said head coach Howe after this back-and-forth contest at the City Ground. It was a tricky-looking second round tie - Forest have since shocked the Premier League by mounting and maintaining a push for Champions League qualification - but the Magpies made a terrific start, leading through Joe Willock's tap-in after a swift counter-attack inside 18 seconds.
Having held the lead until the start of the second period, and having lost Willock to injury, the hosts levelled through Jota Silva's half-volley as United wobbled, missing a number of openings to win it in normal time.
With no extra time, the contest went straight to penalties. Joelinton's effort was parried by towering debutant stopper Carlos Miguel, but the visitors' other spot-kick’s were superb. Ibrahim Sangaré struck the bar, though, and Taiwo Awoniyi blazed high into the Nottingham night. It fell to Sean Longstaff to confirm United's place in round three, which he did coolly, burying it low beyond Miguel.
Aside from securing their progress, another hugely significant note from that night was the return of Sandro Tonali after the expiration of his suspension. The Italian's energetic yet measured displays in the middle of the park would be crucial for Howe’s side as the campaign progressed.
**Tuesday 1st October**
**Newcastle United 1 AFC Wimbledon 0**
United's reward for their win by the Trent was a trip to League Two side AFC Wimbledon, but amid a chaotic build-up to the contest the venue was switched. Extensive overnight flooding in South London led to flooding and pitch damage at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, forcing the game to be moved to St. James' Park.
After images of the playing surface at the Dons' home were shared on social media, the Magpies contributed to an online fundraiser to help their opponents with the necessary work required to get their ground back into shape for the remainder of the season. In the short term, the adversity gave Johnny Jackson's men the chance to cause an upset at the home of a Premier League side, but Newcastle weren't in quite so charitable a mood on the pitch.
It was far from a routine win for Howe's charges, with Fabian Schär's penalty in first half stoppage time all that separated the sides in the end as the Magpies laboured in parts, with the fourth tier outfit pushing them all the way.
But a victory and a clean sheet represented a job well done and a potential banana skin navigated. They would be back at home for another top level test soon after.
**Wednesday 30th October**
**Newcastle United 2 Chelsea 0**
Just three days prior to this fifth round tie, the Magpies had been beaten 2-1 by a Cole Palmer-inspired Blues side in a Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge. The back-to-back meetings with Enzo Maresca's transitional team made for an interesting dynamic in the second fixture under the lights on Tyneside, with Chelsea's new boss opting to field an entirely different starting 11.
Newcastle made a few alterations, too - five in all - but still managed to produce a compelling performance to ease themselves into the last eight. Alexander Isak put them in front after Joelinton and Tonali had combined well to rob the visitors in their own half before Willock looked to have claimed his second of the competition so far, only for it to go down as an Axel Disasi own goal.
Chelsea made a fist of it in the second half without really looking like mounting a comeback. In the end the margin of victory could have greater, with Sean Longstaff finding the target in front of the Gallowgate End on his 27th birthday before being thwarted by the offside flag. Summer signing Will Osula then thumped the upright as Howe's charges marched through, with another stern test awaiting in the quarter-finals.
**Wednesday 18th December**
**Newcastle United 3 Brentford 1**
Newcastle United have endured some rotten luck in cup draws over recent seasons, spending plenty of time on the road and facing a lot of tough opposition. The latter element of misfortune is one they will have to deal with if they are to realise their lofty ambitions but it was a relief, at least, that the Magpies were able to enjoy a third straight home tie in the Carabao Cup at the last eight stage. Home comforts seemed to help United and just before Christmas, they prevailed in front of the Geordie faithful once more.
Tonali was the star of this one, netting twice in the first half to put the tie beyond a below-par Brentford side. His first, a fizzing first-time effort from the edge of the box, set United on their way inside the first ten minutes and later [won the Goal of the Round award](https://www.newcastleunited.com/en/news/tonali-bags-brace-of-awards-after-carabao-cup-quarter-final-heroics). His second was equally well taken, a smart volley from a corner to emphasise the former AC Milan schemer's growing influence from the base of a three-man midfield.
Schär added a third with 20 minutes left and though Yoan Wissa pulled one back at the death, this was as straightforward as could have been hoped for - and made sure the Magpies' third successive quarter-final appearance was a successful one.
**Tuesday 7th January**
**Arsenal 0 Newcastle United 2**
The Magpies were bang in form heading into the first leg of their semi-final at the Emirates Stadium, having won their last six on the bounce. They looked exactly like a team at the top of their game against the Gunners, too, with Isak firing them in front in the first half. Goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka - outstanding in the absence of the injured Nick Pope during that fine winter winning run - played it long and Jacob Murphy, another player with the wind in his sails, helped it on. Isak's finish clipped the crossbar on its way and United had a priceless lead in a game they would probably have settled for a draw in.
It turned out to be far better than that, though. Anthony Gordon prodded home a second in front of the travelling fans to make it 2-0 after the break and ensure Howe's side would take a comfortable lead back to Tyneside for the second leg.
After the final whistle in North London, and with rumours about his future rife, Dúbravka was serenaded by the travelling fans, who urged him to stay. "It was very emotional for me, because it looked like I might be gone after the game," he later told UNITED, the club's official matchday programme. "It meant a lot to me. It's hard to describe your feelings when that many people actually show you that much love, that much support.
"We already started to negotiate, actually, at that time with the club, and I wanted to put something on the internet - 'you want me to stay? OK, then I'll stay!'" In the end, he did, signing a new deal in February, with memories of that night still fresh in his mind.
**Wednesday 5th February**
**Newcastle United 2 Arsenal 0 (Newcastle United win 4-0 on aggregate)**
They held a two-goal advantage but Howe's pre-match words set the tone before the all-important second leg. "All our players have to show they can rise to the occasion, that they can leave a legacy on the pitch, and do something that everybody talks about for years and years," he said. "What an opportunity we have to attack the game and embrace everything in front of us, to be at our best."
As it transpired, the St. James' Park crowd were also at their best on this memorable midweek night as United sealed another cup final berth. On a raucous evening, Isak pummelled home in front of the Leazes End but was denied after a VAR check. Undeterred, Murphy then slid United into a 3-0 aggregate lead in the first half and Mikel Arteta's Gunners looked totally bereft of ideas on how to combat an aggressive, slick Magpies side who played with the authority of a team who would not be letting their lead slip.
Arsenal had squandered a host of chances in the first leg and wasted another before Murphy's opener when Martin Ødegaard skimmed the post. But it would be disingenuous to suggest that the tie looked liable to turn on such moments; in reality, Newcastle always looked in control. Seven minutes after the restart, Declan Rice was robbed in front of his own goal after being played into trouble by goalkeeper David Raya, and Gordon rolled home to wrap up a comprehensive win and send them flying into the 2025 Carabao Cup final.
"It's huge," said Howe. "The first Wembley (final in 2023) was brilliant, a bit unexpected, but we need to be there regularly. We need to feel like we're there on merit. It's not a surprise. I think we are there on merit this year.
"Our run hasn't been easy. Look at who we've had to face - I think it's four Premier League teams. We've done the hard yards and we've now got an opportunity. Hopefully we can learn from the last one and improve our performance. You have to learn from disappointing experiences, and there are definitely things we can learn.
"Since I've been here the fans have been absolutely magnificent, and I'm so pleased they get another trip to Wembley. I just hope for them we can get a trophy."
One more step.