Albion brave and battle hard but lose out 3-2 in Newcastle to exit the Carabao Cup thanks to former favourite Harvey Barnes’ brilliance.
Former loan hero Harvey Barnes punished Albion with two goals off the bench to knock his old club out of the EFL Cup in a lively 3-2 Newcastle win at St James’ Park.
Barnes was the hosts’ two-goal hero after another pair of goals from Albion star Isaac Price had threatened to cause an upset in the north east.
Price squeezed an intelligent free-kick in at the near post in the opening stages, before the hosts drew level through Bazoumana Toure before the break.
Barnes, Baggies hero of the first half of 2018/19 on loan from Leicester, was introduced at the interval and struck barely three minutes after the restart.
Matthias Jaissle’s hosts looked strong but back came James Morrison’s men and Price buried a penalty after Lewis Hall’s handball as full-time neared.
But Albion couldn’t settle and there was Barnes again to convert an excellent finish to decide the pulsating tie at a sell-out St James’ Park.
It ended in elimination and a first defeat of the season for Morrison’s in-form men, yet it hardly felt it with Albion cheer from the away end at full-time. Disappointment, yes, but the Baggies can be heartened and inspired as they ran the Premier League hosts close and gave them a scare. Albion will remain in the north east for Saturday’s trip to Middlesbrough.
Last time Albion were here, behind-closed-doors in 2020, it was another former loan favourite in Dwight Gayle who inflicted defeat. This time, the Baggies and their 2,000 roaring travelling faithful left encouraged.
Isaac Price wheels away in celebration at Newcastle.placeholder image
Isaac Price wheels away in celebration at Newcastle. | Getty Images
The hosts, who like their visitors made six changes, started well. The home crowd was whipped up by the pre-match introduction of new £52million recruit from Manchester City Nico Gonzalez.
Skipper George Campbell made a vital last-ditch block in the opening stages before Joe Willock, fresh from his strike against Liverpool, fired inches wide of the upright.
It took Morrison’s men 10 minutes or so to settle, but once they got a foot on the ball the visitors - all in red - grew in confidence.
Jimmy-Jay Morgan saw a chance to shoot from 20 yards momentarily get away, but it was a signal of what was to come as Price, Morgan, Harry Whitwell and others buzzed forward. Excellent right-back academy product Alex Williams was a game attacking force too, while full debutant Rabby Nzingoula zipped around in midfield.
Morgan opted to ignore left-back Conor Townsend in space on the overlap and had a shot blocked.
Newcastle, and their fans, grew uneasy. Sean Steur was rightly booked for a late foul on Morgan and Price and Townsend stood over the 30-yard free-kick, to the right.
Everybody was fooled. A cross was expected and Price instead whipped a low free-kick around the ball towards the bottom right corner. Debutant keeper Jaouen got across and a hand to it but could not stop the ball squeezing it at his near post.
Price celebrated with his team-mates down at the Gallowgate End.
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Albion celebrate | PA
The Magpies were rocked, as angst grew among the stands as passes went astray. Baggies confidence grew and Morgan might have done better when he fired a low strike wide from 20 yards when in more space than he realised. Full debutant striker Barney Stewart flicked a header well wide.
Newcastle improved after the half hour. Willock’s angled effort from Nick Woltemade’s flick was easy for Matt Ingram in goal.
The Albion debutant keeper had not been overly stretched and held on easily from Toure shortly afterwards.
Willock was a constant threat and wanted too many touches in the box as skipper Campbell cleared.
Newcastle sniffed a way back in and achieved it seven minutes before the interval.
The visitors lost it sloppily on their left. The Magpies were patient and made the Baggies pay. Right-back Amar Dedic crossed low along the six-yard box and Toure appeared to turn home. Whether defender Chris Mepham helped turn it in was unclear. Ingram could not get down from close range.
Morgan almost turned in from a wicked Townsend cross in stoppage time. Albion departed at half-time to ringing applause from the away end.
But within minutes of the restart a half-time substitute had made the visitors pay.
The Baggies cannot say they weren’t aware. Barnes buzzed around the left flank and played his part in winning a succession of corners.
One was cleared as far as the former loanee and he struck goalwards. The ball pinged around a crowded area but Barnes was more sharp and alive than anybody on the field to dash into the box and turn home from close range.
Harvey Barnes celebrates his firstplaceholder image
Harvey Barnes celebrates his first | PA
Morrison’s men tried to respond and Price had a chance from five yards from good Nzingoula work but the hosts made a big block.
Nzingoula and Ousmane Diakite collected cautions within a few moments as Albion hung on. Home boss Matthias Jaissle sent for more of the cavalry after the hour.
The Baggies tired but Morrison’s triple change with 20 minutes left helped find impetus. Striker Stewart had worked hard but saw his shot blocked after subs Callum Styles and Jayson Molumby combined.
It felt the scales had tipped again and so it proved. Youngsters Williams and Whitwell combined on the right and the latter’s cross hit the arm of Lewis Shaw. Bobby Madley pointed to the spot.
Price was nerveless with 12 minutes left. He sent the Baggies fans high behind the goal into raptures by slotting his second into the right corner.
Morrison’s side were just unable to sit tight and hold on for a shootout.
Newcastle responded as Hall cracked the post and Yoane Wissa somehow blazed a sitter over.
But the hosts came again as Anthony Elanga found Dedic and his low cross was turned in expertly with his instep by Barnes. The deadly finish was so clean.
Albion huffed and puffed but could not find another leveller for penalty. Molumby’s fine free-kick was turned away by Jaouen before the final whistle.
The visitors departed the pitch disappointed but to hearty cheers from the away end, who can be as encouraged as possible after defeat.
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Jaouen, Dedic, Botman, Thiaw (c), Hall, Steur, Ramsey, Murphy, Willock, Toure (Barnes, 45), Woltemade.
Subs not used: Hornicek (gk), Schar, Bamba, Wissa, Elanga, Shahar, Neave, Miley.
Albion (4-4-2): Ingram; Williams, Campbell (c), Mepham, Townsend; Whitwell (Bostock, 80), Nzingoula (Styles, 71), Diakite (Molumby, 71), Price (Bany, 80); Morgan (Horn Myhre, 71), Stewart.
Subs not used: O’Leary (gk), Galves, Phillips, Crowther.
Attendance: 51,405
Referee: Robert Madley