What Jaissle did to drown out Millwall fans as Newcastle forced to dig deep

Matthias Jaissle partied with his players after overcoming brave Championship battlers Millwall at the New Den.

This wasn't the prettiest of displays by any stretch of the imagination, but it could be worth its weight in gold to the German head coach as it keeps Newcastle alive in the Carabao Cup until at least the end of October. The victory - handed to Newcastle thanks to Joe Willock - did not exactly come on a silver platter in the capital and the injury-hit Lions came close to an upset.

Indeed, they were the width of the post from going ahead after substitute Tairyk Arconte fired off the woodwork with 11 minutes to go. But just two minutes later, Millwall's cup dreams were over as Willock popped up with the all-important moment.

Jaissle was rewarded for going strong against the Lions but had to turn to his bench to introduce £51m summer signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo and £55m man Anthony Elanga to help open up the home defence.

It sent 2,072 Newcastle fans back to the North-East in a jubilant mood on a night in which Millwall had tried to drown them out. It had been intense from the opening moments at the Den but Jaissle ensured he had the last laugh as the home fans were silenced amid Newcastle's celebrations.

Newcastle won a corner on six minutes after Lewis Hall and Harvey Barnes combined down the left-hand side in front of the Cold Blow Lane End. After Jacob Murphy's delivery, Fabian Schar complained he'd had his shirt tugged, but ref Craig Pawson waved away protests.

The Magpies, backed by over 2,000 travelling fans, tried to settle the game down amid Millwall fans' usual Monk Chant, which attempted to drown out any backing from the travelling band of backers from the North-East. The first real chance came on 12 minutes when Nico Gonzalez pinged a 50-yard pass from left to right before it fell for Jacob Murphy, who sent an effort narrowly over.

Three minutes later, Willock twisted his way into the final third and struck an effort at ex-Gateshead stopper Filip Marschall, who made a good block to deny him. The chances continued for the visitors with Sven Botman heading over from Murphy's corner from the left.

Skipper for the night, Yoane Wissa, should have done better after a powerful burst into the Millwall half, but he waited too long, and the chance was blocked. The Lions' first effort at goal came on 25 minutes when a cross from the left was fired straight at Lukas Hornicek by Scotland international Lyndon Dykes.

Millwall threatened again on 36 minutes when Camiel Neghli's free-kick was swung in from the left, and Caleb Taylor headed wide. On 41 minutes, Fabian Schar wound up and struck one from long range, but it deflected off Metcalfe and into the side netting.

The two sides went level at the break, but Newcastle should have had a penalty after Schar was pulled down by Taylor. Jaissle made a change at the break as Tino Livramento came on for Dedic.

Millwall continued to pose a threat and Jake Cooper gave home fans hope as he headed wide of the target on 56 minutes. Murphy's early momentum in the game had evaporated by the time he saw a 63rd minute shot blocked at the New Den.

And within minutes, his number came up after what proved to be an ineffective display with Anthony Elanga coming on while Wissa also came off for £51m man Matias Fernandez-Pardo. Newcastle should have had another penalty after Schar was again fouled in the box with 20 minutes to go, but again, Pawson gave nothing.

Newcastle were almost undone as Tairyk Arconte steamed down the right-hand side but was denied by the woodwork before Hornicek snuffed out the rebound with 11 minutes left.

But on United's next attack, the Magpies grabbed the lead thanks to Willock after good work from Fernandez-Pardo down the left-hand side. First, Barnes picked out the former Lille man before his neat ball to Lewis Hall resulted in a dangerous low cross for Willock to calmly guide home from close range.

It proved to be enough to send the Magpies into the last 16 and keep one road to Wembley open. But it was far from straight-forward and Jaissle knew it.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)

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