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Jamie Jackson was at the Etihad, while Andy Brassell was at St James’ Park, and both of their match reports are in. Here they are, along with a reminder of the semi-final draw. Thanks for reading this edition of SuperClocko™, incorporating the very first runout for our patented Three-Half MBM System©!
The first legs, hosted by Chelsea and Newcastle, will be played week commencing 12 January 2026. The return legs will be held week commencing 2 February 2026. The final will take place at Wembley on Sunday 22 March 2026.
In the wake of the earlier quarter final, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola spoke to Sky Sports … “Thank you to the incredible fans on a difficult day … windy … rain … they were wet like they were … thank you for coming to be with us … we are happy to be in the semi-final.”
… as did his Brentford counterpart Keith Andrews, who was measured but also displeased with the officials after Abdukodir Khusanov’s controversial challenge on Kevin Schade. “The performance levels were really good … a very tough place to come … we played with a lot of courage … a lot of bravery … the players are so good to work with … so intelligent … I think [Khusanov’s challenge] was a red … they’ve made a mistake, the officials … I’m very quick to support officials … they have a very difficult job … the explanation given was [Schade’s] touch was too big and going away from goal … I don’t see that at all … he’s going straight through .. it’s a crazy tackle and he takes him out … I don’t see it any other way than being a red card.”
ShareThe semi-final draw
The draw has been made by Jamie Redknapp and Shay Given (pictured below) and is as follows:
The first legs, hosted by Chelsea and Newcastle, will be played week commencing 12 January 2026. The return legs will be held week commencing 2 February 2026. The final will take place at Wembley on Sunday 22 March 2026.
A CUP DRAW, BACK IN THE DAY. Just by looking at this photograph, synesthetes may experience strong wafts of brandy, stale cigar smoke and pomade. Photograph: PA/PA Archive/PA ImagesShare
Updated at 17.54 EST
The draw was scheduled to take place at 10.30pm … but the Football League always faff about ahead of these things. It’ll surely be coming soon … and indeed it’s just been announced that, after an advertising break on Sky Sports, it’ll be on. Sit tight!
Marco Silva’s turn to speak to Sky. “We have to praise the commitment … the attitude … the work ethic … difficult when you lose the way you lost … all that hard work … it takes more time to recover … but it is football … the first half was better than the second … some good moments … very tough for us to lose … this season has been very tough for us … [we have] a very [small] squad … it is not an excuse, it is what it is … we wanted to be in the semi-finals … the players were brave … tonight [Newcastle] were able to refresh their entire front line … it is completely different realities.”
Eddie Howe speaks to Sky Sports. “Really pleased … a tough game … we controlled the game … Fulham are a good team and had their moments but we deserved to win … a brilliant performance [from Lewis Miley] from a talented young player … he’s taking his game to another level … nights like that can only help him … Yoane [Wissa] getting his goal is a brilliant moment for him … he took it superbly … he can only get better for the match minutes … it was important to bounce back from [the Sunderland defeat] … we want to win trophies … we had such a great experience last year, we’re keen to do it again … but we know with the teams left in it, it’s not going to be easy.”
As for the injured Tino Livramento, Howe reports that “it doesn’t look good … a worrying sign … it would be a huge blow.”
Updated at 17.38 EST
Lewis Miley – a local lad, 19 years young – has just put his team into the semi-finals of a major competition. He’s been named player of the match, not just for scoring the late winner, but also for taking most touches of any player (91) and here he is talking to Sky Sports. “It was a great feeling … I just thought I’d try to flick it on … lovely when it went into the back of the net … I was absolutely buzzing … we had a couple of chances that didn’t go in but that one did … it’s an unreal feeling … I grew up here … hopefully we can progress to the final … we won it last season and hopefully we can do it this year again … the last result wasn’t good for us but this tonight was good.”
From Miley to smiley, and the other goalscorer, a delighted Yoane Wissa, positively beaming after scoring his first goal for Newcastle on his first start, adds: “It’s top … I did enjoy today … there’s a lot of work to do … happy for the win today … I knew [St James’ Park] was special but now playing with the number nine on my back, it is different! … quite happy today! … to win the cup is something special … they did it last year … I wasn’t there [cracks even bigger grin] so now I want to do it!”
Lewis Miley (right) and Yoane Wisse are feeling pretty chipper as they’re interviewed after Newcastle United’s victory. Photograph: Richard Lee/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 17.50 EST
That wasn’t the highest-quality football match you’ll ever witness … but it was hard-fought, dramatic, and good fun from start to finish. Newcastle edge it in dramatic style, and keep a hold of their trophy for another couple of months. Fulham’s long wait for their first major silverware goes on. The FA Cup, perhaps. Anyway, the Toon join Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal/Crystal Palace in the velvet bag for the semi-final draw … which is coming up here soon. Stay tuned!
ShareFULL TIME: Newcastle United 2-1 Fulham
Newcastle do a last-gasp number on Fulham at St James’ Park for the second time this season … and the holders make it through to the semi-finals!
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe (left) congratulates winning goalscorer Lewis Miley after the final whistle. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PAShare
Updated at 17.53 EST
90 min +7: Fulham win a throw deep in Toon territory down the right. Tete flings it in … but it’s too loopy, and Alex Murphy clears. But Tete reclaims possession, and sends a rising screamer towards the top left from 25 yards! Inches high and wide with Ramsdale at full stretch. So close to forcing penalties!
90 min +6: Tonali sticks a cheeky elbow into Reed’s neck from behind. No VAR. Had there been … well, you never know. Completely pointless.
90 min +5: Newcastle so, so close. There should be an extra minute or two for the goal and the celebration, mind.
90 min +4: Traore loops a cross in from the left. Ramsdale leaps to claim. The crowd whoop and holler. St James’ Park was a pensive place moments ago. Not now!
90 min +3: Kusi-Asare comes on for Berge as, with time running out, Fulham flick a switch to go into Kitchen Sink Mode.
ShareGOAL! Newcastle United 2-1 Fulham (Miley 90+2)
… the resulting corner comes in from the left. Brilliant whipped delivery by Ronali. Miley rises at the near stick, and eyebrows adroitly across Lecomte and into the net! St James’ Park erupts!
Lewis Miley glances a header goalwards … Photograph: Lee Keuneke/Every Second Media/ShutterstockThen watches as it heads into the Fulham net. Photograph: Scott Heppell/ReutersJoy abounds St James’ Park. Photograph: George Wood/Getty ImagesFulham keeper Benjamin Lecomte and his teammates understandable look cheesed off. Photograph: Greig Cowie/ShutterstockShare
Updated at 17.44 EST
90 min +1: Apparently the last meaningful shots in this game were taken on 66 minutes, one from Livramento, the next by Smith Rowe. But finally, another, as Tonali and Woltemade combine to tee up Miley near the penalty spot. Miley curls a shot towards the bottom-left corner. He’s denied by a brilliant Lecomte save, but not for long because …
Updated at 17.04 EST
90 min: There will be six additional minutes.
89 min: Both teams are playing on the edge. Nerves winning out. Close control a thing of the past. It’s business time!
87 min: Newcastle are on the attack when Wilson steals the ball and barrels off down the right. The home side are fortunate that only King keeps up with Wilson, and the striker can’t be found with a crossfield pass. For a split second there, Newcastle hearts were in mouths.
86 min: Wilson cynically clips the ankle of Ramsey, who was looking to make good down the left. Wilson somehow escapes a yellow card, and has the chutzpah to complain about the award of a free kick. Nothing comes of the set piece.
85 min: Another double change by Newcastle, as Gordon replaces Barnes on the left, and Elanga replaces Jacob Murphy on the right.
84 min: … nothing happens, but the anxiety among the home fans at SJP is palpable.
83 min: The free kick finds Andersen on the right-hand side of the six-yard box. Fulham’s captain heads into the mixer. Thiaw is forced to head behind for a corner. From which …
82 min: Miley steals the ball off the advancing Traore, near the left-hand corner flag … then gifts it back to Robinson. Newcastle are fortunate that Robinson, drifting in from the left, hesitates and fails to get a shot away, but then Woltemade slides in late on Tete, conceding a free kick 30 yards out. The big striker goes into the book.
Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade is shown a yellow card by referee Darren England. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/ReutersShare
Updated at 17.01 EST
80 min: Jacob Murphy crosses from the right. He has Woltemade and Barnes in good positions, but finds neither, sending a ball that’s neither one thing nor the other out for a goal kick.
78 min: Sky flash up a stat that won’t make for good reading to Newcastle fans. They’ve let in ten goals in the last 15 minutes this season, a total only matched in the Premier League by Burnley and Nottingham Forest. By way of balance, they did score a 90th-minute winner here against Fulham in October, so what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts.
76 min: Livramento has tweaked something while overstretching for the ball. He’s able to walk off, but trudges down the tunnel sadly. Alex Murphy comes on in his stead.
74 min: Fulham respond with a double sub of their own, replacing Smith Rowe and Kevin with King and Traore.
72 min: Here comes that double change. Willock and Wissa are replaced Tonali and Woltemade. The latter, the Sandy Brown de nos jours, is cheered to the rafters as he takes to the pitch, with his name chanted immediately after.
71 min: Barnes is having a good game out on the left. I wonder how many goals he’ll score for Scotland in next year’s World Cup?
Harvey Barnes sticks it into the mixer. Photograph: Michelle Mercer/Newcastle United/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 16.54 EST