Newcastle United 2–0 Tottenham Hotspur on 29 October 2025

A pair of headers from Fabian Schar and Nick Woltemade sent holders Newcastle United into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Tottenham.

Spurs have hurt a number of sides with their aerial ability this season, particularly at set-plays, but the much-changed hosts gave Thomas Frank's team a taste of their own medicine at St James' Park.

Newcastle took the lead midway through the first half when Schar easily rose above Lucas Bergvall to head them in front from Sandro Tonali's corner.

Spurs players protested to referee Chris Kavanagh as Tonali took the corner just as defender Djed Spence got to his feet after putting his boot back on, but the goal stood.

Woltemade doubled his side's lead with his sixth goal of the season after the German met Joe Willock's scooped cross and nodded past goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who missed the ball completely.

Spurs went close to immediately pulling one back when midfielder Pape Sarr's first-time effort forced Aaron Ramsdale into a flying save to his left.

But Newcastle, who also had Harvey Barnes smack the bar with an acrobatic effort, saw the game out to reach the last eight of the competition for the fourth consecutive season, facing Fulham next.

"There is no priority," said boss Eddie Howe. "We just want to win and win consistently. That's such a healthy thing for the group to feel.

"The acid test was this game for that because of the changes we made. Was our mentality and mindset going to waver? The most pleasing thing for me was that it didn't."

The fourth round has traditionally been a graveyard for the Carabao Cup holders in recent years.

Manchester City were dumped out at this stage in 2021, while Liverpool and Manchester United followed in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

But Newcastle never looked like joining them on Wednesday night.

Captain Bruno Guimaraes talked about "creating history" once again by defending the trophy and, although head coach Howe made eight changes, those who came into the team clearly got the message.

There was a blend of six survivors from the side that ended Newcastle's 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy last season alongside five of the club's summer signings.

And it worked.

By the time German forward Woltemade made it 2-0, the home support were already singing - and dreaming - about a Wembley return in the March showpiece.

Newcastle have a lot of work to do to reach a third final in four seasons but Geordies - and their fans - still clearly believe.

"We enjoy the competition," added Howe. "We take it seriously. We want to do well. It's up to the players and how they take to the pitch.

"We made a number of changes. There is always a slight doubt about how that team will knit together.

"But, from minute one, we looked in a really good place. Athletically we were excellent. A lot of those players haven't played regularly so that's testament to their professionalism and how they have looked after themselves between games and they got their rewards."

Spurs did not have to wait anywhere near as long as Newcastle to end their own wait for silverware last season.

It was just the 17 years, but manager Thomas Frank rightly talked up how his side were "very eager to win more trophies" after predecessor Ange Postecoglou led them to Europa League glory.

While injuries have limited Frank's options, somewhat, it was rather telling the Spurs manager only made four changes for this tie.

That's how serious he took it.

Spurs have been harder to beat under the Dane and boast the top-flight's best away record, but the visitors will rue the manner of this defeat - and the goals they conceded.

Ahead of the first, Pedro Porro and Richarlison each feebly threw an arm up in a bid to grab the referee's attention as Spence put his boot back on - and complained the full-back should have had more time to get back into position.

But Spurs should have been alert and defended the subsequent corner much better.

For Newcastle's second, Kinsky was at sea after coming off his line to try to claw Willock's cross away - only for Woltemade to get there first.