Newcastle United survived a scare against Tranmere Rovers to book their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup following a 2-1 win at Prenton Park.
Elliott Nevitt gave the League Two side a shock lead midway through the first half but Jamaal Lascelles equalised in the 40th minute before Chris Wood scored what proved to be the winner just after half-time.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
READ MORE: Tranmere Rovers vs Newcastle United highlights
Newcastle show some fight as Tranmere rough visitors up
Having produced their finest display yet under Eddie Howe against champions Man City at the weekend, this was another chance for Newcastle to show how far they have come. That may seem a strange statement to make when the Magpies were facing a Tranmere Rovers side who were 17th in League Two.
However, Newcastle had progressed past the second round of the Carabao Cup on just one occasion in the previous five seasons and, in the last decade, alone, the Magpies have been knocked out of a cup competition by a lower league side a whopping eight times. There have been painful defeats against Brentford, Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday along the way and Newcastle were dumped out of the FA Cup by Cambridge United as recently as January.
If Newcastle are to truly progress, those defeats have to be consigned to history but there was a reason why the television cameras were in place. Sky anticipated another potential giant killing and Elliot Nevitt duly put Tranmere in front. However, Newcastle did eventually respond, despite Tranmere's best efforts to kick the visitors off the park, and a bloodied Jamaal Lascelles equalised before the break. Newcastle were much better after half-time, following some words from Howe, and Wood popped up with a decisive second in the 51st minute.
Kieran Trippier changes the game
After going behind, Newcastle were further rocked when Emil Krafth was stretchered off a few minutes later but the Magpies had Kieran Trippier to call upon. Few right-backs are quite so influential in world football but Trippier made an immediate impact when he came on with his set-piece deliveries. Not only did Trippier set up Lascelles' equaliser with just his second touch, the England international also teed up Chris Wood's header in the second half to put the visitors 2-1 up. It is not an exaggeration to say the £12m signing changed the game.
Alexander Isak is certainly needed
Jamaal Lascelles recently remarked that he had 'never been part of such a talented squad', but Callum Wilson's hamstring issue at the weekend was a reminder why Newcastle still need reinforcements in the final third - even if the number nine gets a positive result from his latest scan.
That is where Alexander Isak comes in. Only four players aged 23 and under have scored more goals in Europe's top leagues in the last four years than the Real Sociedad star and Newcastle, remarkably, are on the verge of agreeing a record-breaking £58m deal for the Sweden international.
Eddie Howe always stressed the importance of signing the 'right' player and Newcastle's perseverance and late push in the window looks set to pay off with Isak, who will be a statement signing as well as a much-needed one. Without Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron, who caused City real problems at the weekend, Newcastle looked a little light up top against Tranmere, which is hardly breaking news, of course. Wood did get on the score sheet, but Newcastle lacked a cutting edge at times at Prenton Park.
Poor start highlights lack of depth
This was the first of three games in a week for Newcastle so changes were always on the cards yet Howe was still able to field a side he felt could win the game. Joe Willock may have been the only starter to keep his place from the weekend, but internationals like Emil Krafth and Chris Wood came in; Matt Targett returned from injury; and experienced heads such as Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie were among those picked who had vast experience of playing in these games.
However, you would not have necessarily know it in the opening stages - particularly given the Magpies' defending for Nevitt's opener. Tranmere easily drew Newcastle players out of position with an intricate passing move inside their own half and a scooped pass sent Josh Dacres-Cogley racing into space down the right wing. The wing-back coolly squared the ball across to Elliot Nevitt, who only turned pro last year, and the striker's close-range effort took a deflection off Karl Darlow and nestled in the net.
It was a mess of a goal to concede as a number of players failed to grasp a rare opportunity to impress. To win a cup competition, and compete in the Premier League, Newcastle will need an even stronger group in the years to come.
Elliot Anderson takes his chance
You can see why Eddie Howe wants to keep Elliot Anderson around. Yes, Newcastle need cover in the middle of the park, particularly with Jonjo Shelvey looking set to miss the first half of the season with a serious hamstring injury, but the 19-year-old is simply the club's hottest prospect. Wednesday night was a reminder why as Anderson made his first competitive start for his boyhood club.
Yes, Anderson has already thrived at this level - the attacking midfielder even scored at Prenton Park last season while on loan at Bristol Rovers - but this was still a big night for the Geordie to show he can do it in a black-and-white shirt. Whatever about his ability, it is Anderson's mentality that makes him such a promising player. After being on the receiving end of a crunching tackle in the opening stages, the attacking midfielder immediately got up to his feet and wanted to get on with the game.
On a night where a number of his more senior team-mates failed to take their chance, Anderson was a bright spark throughout with his quick feet. With the Premier League now allowing clubs to make five substitutions, Anderson could yet be an important option for Howe this season.
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