Of course, it is impossible to completely escape a city’s feelings and expectations, especially when the club’s all-time leading scorer, Alan Shearer, texts the club captain, Bruno Guimaraes, on the eve of the game. His message was not one spewing emotion, but a clinical instruction: “Bring that trophy back.”

It was at that moment I, for the first time, believed Eddie Howe's men were going to end their lengthy trophy drought. In truth, there had been little reason to be nervous - either side of Pope's save.

Eddie Howe believes winning the Carabao Cup can be a “turning point” in the history of Newcastle United. Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored either side of the interval to give the Magpies a