Newcastle limp past AFC Wimbledon to reach Carabao Cup last 16

Eddie Howe was told Newcastle progressed because of a “dodgy penalty.”

Dons’ boss Johnnie Jackson said he was “fuming” after United were handed a spot kick when Joe Piggott was ruled to have tripped Miguel Almiron. Fabian Schar converted. Newcastle stumbled through after being largely contained by the League Two outfit.

Jackson said: “We have lost by a dodgy penalty. I am fuming with it. First there was a dive (when Schar went down), free-kick, yellow card. Then there was another coming together, ref didn’t give it then the linesman got involved and gave a penalty. I am angry about that one."

A year ago this week Newcastle were blowing away Paris St Germain 4-1 in the Champions League with their best performance under Eddie Howe. No such glamour and fizz here.

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Instead, 363 days after that memorable night, it was a grinding, functional win. Chelsea are up next in the Carabao Cup for Newcastle when the competition hots up, and they’ll have to be better than this to go further.

Wimbledon, 11th in League Two, were excellent. Organised and resilient, with a game plan that contained Newcastle with men behind the ball and space being squeezed. Eddie Howe’s men struggled to cut loose and create.

Even the Toon cavalry of second half substituted including Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes couldn’t turn possession into a more convincing win.

Dons boss Johnnie Jackson got his tactics spot on and added: “It was a brilliant effort from our players. The way we did our game plan Newcastle and they know they have been in a game.

“The gulf in divisions and individual qualities is obvious but we bridged it and frustrated them. I am disappointed we did not force it to pens. I think we are a really good team, They are in there gutted we did not pull it off.

League Two Wimbledon also got their chance to play at St James’ Park after the game was postponed and moved after a flood ruined their pitch last week.

Howe said: “Job done, through to the next round. These are difficult games but I was frustrated with our attacking play. We were not dynamic enough. Credit to them for their defending.

“The one on Miggy looked like he was caught.‌ It is instantly forgettable. It won’t live long in the memory. It is wins like this that create a cup run. You have to battle your way through.”

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