A tight game at St. James’ Park was ultimately decided by teenage sensation Lewis Miley, with a wonderful header sealing the win for Newcastle United.
Overall, Newcastle deserved the victory, with the Magpies dominating possession and controlling the second half completely.
However, try as they might, Eddie Howe’s men just could not break Fulham’s stubborn defence down. That is, until the dying moments of injury time, when Lewis Miley truly came alive.
The youngster was one of the best Newcastle players on the night anyway, but the fact he produced the goods late on to deliver the win put him head and shoulders above the rest.
Lewis Miley didn’t even mean to score
Miley thought he had won the game when he rifled an instinctive shot at goal, but Fulham goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte managed to palm the ball away for a corner.
From there, Miley rose the highest and headed the ball goalwards to win the game in the 92nd minute. It all worked out perfectly, but after the match, the youngster admitted he didn’t even mean to score.
He said: “It’s a great feeling. I thought I’d try to flick it on, and it luckily hit the back of the net and I’m buzzing. It’s an unreal feeling. I grew up here, it couldn’t be a better feeling and hopefully we progress to the final.”
Now, with Newcastle through to the next round of the Carabao Cup, where they’ll face Man City, Miley has his sights set on collecting another trophy with his boyhood club.
“We won it last season and hopefully we can do that again this year. The last result [against Sunderland] wasn’t good for us, but getting that win tonight was good for us.”
Eddie Howe highlighted the importance of progression in the cup before the game, and now the Magpies will be dreaming of taking home the trophy once again.
Eddie Howe raves about Lewis Miley
Miley will take all the plaudits for his part in the win, especially after filling in at right-back rather than his preferred midfield role.
The performance earned more special praise from Howe, who said: “Miley was brilliant. He’s a talented young player. He hasn’t played right-back a lot, but he took on a lot of information, played well, and it was a great finish.
“He’s growing into this role, it’s obvious. He believes he is more than good enough to play at this level and excel. We’re seeing that now, and it will only help him getting a goal like that.”
It’s not the first time Howe has praised Miley, and if he keeps playing like this, it won’t be the last, either. The 19-year-old is performing beyond his years right now, and it’s a joy to watch.