PITCH PERFECT
Newcastle 1 Wimbledon 0: Chelsea learn Carabao Cup opponents as Toon see off visitors after pitch saw fixture postponed
Toon set up rematch of last year's League Cup quarter final
FABIAN SCHAR was spot on to dump Wimbledon out of the League Cup after their sinkhole misery and secure Newcastle a shot at revenge against Chelsea.
The floodgates failed to open as it took a Schar penalty right before halftime to finally breach the League Two outfits' defence.
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And while the Dons look to use the cash from fundraising and this cup clash to get Plough Lane sorted, Toon can start plotting for payback on the Blues.
The round-of-16 showdown will be a rematch of last season’s quarter-final where the Magpies suffered late heartbreak at Stamford Bridge.
That evening Eddie Howe’s men looked to have booked a semi-final spot before Mykhaylo Mudryk capitalised on a Kieran Trippier mistake to force a shootout - and it was Chelsea who advanced and went all the way to the final.
This time it will be them making the long journey north, just like their South London neighbours from five miles down the road did yesterday.
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The Dons, of course, were due to host this tie only for flooding to cause a huge sinkhole on the Plough Lane pitch.
That led to the football community coming together to raise over £100,000 to help the repair bill, which included a £15,000 donation from Newcastle as well as the use of their ground to stage it.
And the goodwill was on full display from the near 1,500 away supporters before kick-off as they held aloft two banners reading “Thank you Toon” and another that read "Thank you everyone".
The niceties lasted less than ten minutes as Lloyd Kelly was subjected to chant of “you dirty northern b***ard” after a foul.
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That and Miguel Almiron’s offside goal were the only things of note in a tepid first half until Martin Dubravka was caught by Wimbledon striker Omar Bugiel while making a brave save.
That left Howe with a choice of John Ruddy, who turns 38 this month, and £20m summer signing Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Incredible before and after video shows AFC Wimbledon's progress fixing huge sinkhole after Carabao Cup clash postponed
It was eventually the Greek international who got the nod at the break, but that was after Schar slotted home from 12 yards after Joe Pigott chopped Almiron in the box.
Riley Harbottle’s jaw denied Joe Willock after the restart as Howe called for Anthony Gordon off the bench.
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Dons boss Johnnie Jackson’s game-plan to sit and frustrate worked wonders but they still had not had a shot on target with five to go.
It was time to roll the dice with a triple sub, which took four minutes to make due to a lengthy passage of play, causing one late scare from Harbottle’s long-throw, but it proved too little too late.
Asked after the game about the penalty, Jackson said: "I’m fuming with it as the first one is a dive and then there’s break in play and another coming together but ref doesn’t give up.
"Then, like we’re not already up against being a League Two side, the linesman gives it and gets involved.
"For that to be the difference in the game, I’m disappointed. And my lads are gutted in there."
Howe, who admitted it was an “instantly forgettable” performance, said: “Job done - that’s the most important thing.
“I’m frustrated with our attacking play - especially the first half.
“Credit to them for how they defended. You have to battle your way through.
“It’s an opportunity for us and we want to stay in the competition as long as we can.”
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Howe, who replaced Schar late on with Dan Burn, added: “Martin Dubravka's taken a nasty bang to his knee, we hope he's alright but we'll see how he settles down tomorrow.
“Fabian had a couple of issues, his ankle and other things, but hopefully he'll be alright and it's not serious.”
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