Newcastle 2-0 Leicester: Toon reach their first domestic semi-final for 18 YEARS

In life and in football, the journey is often better than the destination. And while Newcastle United are headed for a first domestic semi-final in 18 years and, potentially, their first trophy since 1969, it is amid the delirium of nights such as this that names are stitched into the fabric of a club’s folklore. Enter Dan Burn.

He had to plead with Brighton to let him realise a boyhood dream and sign for his hometown club 12 months ago. Since then, the 6ft 6ins defender has grown a few inches more, so central has he been to Newcastle’s resurgence. The one thing that had eluded him was a goal. Until now. Not a bad time to score it, either.

Newcastle had dominated Leicester. Battered them. While the home fans swirled black and white flags on the Gallowgate End, the visitors had come armed only with a white one.

Newcastle secured their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Leicester

Dan Burn opened the scoring on the hour mark following a dominant display from the hosts

It was a brilliant finish from Burn as he held of two defenders before finishing with his right foot

But much like Burn’s time on Tyneside, just a goal was missing for the rampant hosts. Then, on 60 minutes, the lad born in the shadow of Blyth Power Station just up the Northumberland coastline had a power surge of his own.

Joelinton gave him the pass, but it was hardly a scoring position, with blue bodies to negotiate on the left edge of the penalty area. There was, then, work to be done, and not the sort of work you expect to see from a makeshift left-back. What followed was sheer desire, the sort that can carry a team to Wembley, as Burn bustled between two Leicester jerseys before applying beauty to his brawn with a low finish under the otherwise excellent Danny Ward. It was with his right boot, too, the foot that is ordinarily only used for supporting his sizeable frame.

Burn wore a smile as wide as the Tyne after that. All Newcastle had to do was see out the game and he would feel so invincible as to walk on that famous river.

A nervy finale? You would have forgiven Newcastle for retreating given what was at stake. No chance. On they pressed and Joelinton ensured passage to a two-legged semi when collecting Miguel Almiron’s througball and slotting beyond a sickened Ward on 72 minutes. 

It was Burn’s first goal since moving to his boyhood club last January and came at a vital time

Joelinton doubled Newcastle’s lead as he rounded off a fine team move with a calm finish

But this was Newcastle’s very own Burn’s Night. Afterwards, in the dressing-room, he danced a jig every bit as smooth as the goal he had scored.

‘I asked him to speak and he stood up and danced!’ beamed boss Eddie Howe. ‘He moves well for a big man! But the goal was a brilliant moment for him. If you’re a betting man, then you’re not putting money on Dan Burn scoring with his right foot.

‘But it was a thing of beauty. He has driven in and what a finish from a tight angle. He’s a great character. He has leadership and is well liked.’

Will Howe dance should his team waltz their way to silverware?

‘Only my wife has seen me dance, and she hasn’t seen that for a long time,’ he said. ‘So no, I won’t be dancing. Rhythm isn’t my thing.’

There was a full moon above St James’ on full-time. When Newcastle lifted the Fairs Cup 54 years ago, man was yet to set foot on its surface. This club’s history is punctuated by such quirks.  

The Brazilian’s goal demonstrated the quality and confidence running through the Magpies

Newcastle created several openings in the early stages of the game but were wasteful

For never mind his players, not even Howe was born the last time Newcastle contested the League Cup’s last four. That was in 1976 when they were eventually beaten by Manchester City in the final. Malcolm Macdonald was part of that team and it says much for the passage of time that the former striker, seated just behind Howe in the press box here, celebrated his 73rd birthday a few days ago. But how Newcastle could have done with a prime Supermac in a first half of many chances, and just as many misses.

Howe had vowed to name his best side. He just about escaped a serious panning after making eight changes for Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at League One Sheffield Wednesday. But supporters would have arranged a run on the bank in which the head coach stores his reserves of goodwill had he done the same.

For Leicester, even what would be considered their strongest team has looked feeble of late, and Brendan Rodgers named that here, the same crew who have sunk to three straight losses in the Premier League.

Bruno Guimaraes was guilty of firing a couple of efforts wide but pulled the strings in midfield

The hosts repeatedly cut Leicester open during the clash with some brilliant attacking play

The first of those was against Newcastle on Boxing Day. Howe insisted that game, a 3-0 win for his side, would have no bearing on what happened in this tie. Except, it did. At least in the context of both teams picking up where they left off – Newcastle organised and motivated, Leicester muddled and uninspired. Rodgers later admitted the best team won and labelled his side ‘careless’.

Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimaraes passed up a series of openings before the break but none of them were as glorious as the one presented to Burn in the 52nd minute. He strode unmarked onto Kieran Trippier’s free-kick but headed over from a few yards out.

It was a bad miss which threatened to haunt the defender. Little did he know the stuff of dreams was just around the corner.

Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward was forced into several good saves across the game

The victory meant Howe guided Newcastle to their first domestic cup semi-final in 18 years

Relive Sportsmail’s live blog of the Carabao Cup quarter-final clash between Newcastle and Leicester below.