Newcastle United Paper View (h)

Newcastle escape as Harper saves the day for Roeder

The air of gloom hovering over Newcastle United and beleaguered manager Glenn Roeder was lifted, at least for the immediate future, at Vicarage Road last night when they moved into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup following a penalty shoot-out.

Newcastle were five minutes from defeat and the guarantee of more pressure for Roeder, but the sudden-death finale saw Newcastle extend their unbeaten record in cup ties this season into double figures when Steve Harper saved Jordan Stewart's kick.

Watford looked to be heading for victory when Richard Lee saved from James Milner, but when Ashley Young fired over and Stewart missed, the visitors enjoyed a rare piece of good fortune.

Newcastle had led through Antoine Sibierski's third-minute opener and, after squandering a string of chances, Damien Francis took the game into extra time with a 69th-minute equaliser.

In a dramatic period of extra time, Danny Shittu put Watford ahead for the first time when he converted Ashley Young's free kick in the 107th minute only for Newcastle captain Scott Parker to level, in the 116th minute, with a chip over the advancing Lee. Daily Telegraph

Roeder has last laugh on Vicarage Road return

Glenn Roeder's standing as manager of a beleaguered Newcastle team rose, fell and rose again here last night as his men reached the last eight of the Carling Cup on penalties. It was Newcastle's first visit to Vicarage Road since their FA Cup third-round third replay in 1989, when Watford won 1-0 through an extra-time own goal scored by the visiting captain - one Glenn Roeder.

The former Watford player and manager eventually enjoyed a more profitable experience upon his return, but his men made him sweat as they threw away an early lead provided by Antoine Sibierski and needed an equaliser from Scott Parker two minutes from the end of extra time to earn the right to settle the issue on penalties. Steve Harper's smart save low to his left from a powerful drive by the Watford full-back Jordan Stewart was enough to earn the visitors a place in the last eight after James Milner and Ashley Young had missed. The Independent

Newcastle find right spirit after Shepherd's visit

Crisis, what crisis? Newcastle United booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup after beating Watford 5-4 on penalties at Vicarage Road. When the time came to stand up and be counted Nolberto Solano, Emre Belözoglu, Damien Duff, Stephen Carr and Charles N'Zogbia made no mistake from the spot with Steve Harper saving the decisive final penalty from Jordan Stewart. The Times

Harper's heroics offer a glint of light for Roeder and Newcastle

Through the mist at Vicarage Road last night shone a glint of light for Glenn Roeder. His Newcastle team progressed to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup with a dramatic 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Watford to draw a line temporarily beneath the protests and inquests that followed Saturday's dismal defeat at home to Sheffield United.

The hero last night was the stand-in goalkeeper Steve Harper, who saved from Watford's left-back, Jordan Stewart, after James Milner and Ashley Young had earlier missed in the shoot-out. Yet Newcastle were within four minutes of being eliminated as they trailed in extra-time before the captain Scott Parker's late equaliser ensured there would be penalties. The Guardian