Joe Willock delivered a decisive late goal that propelled Newcastle United into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, edging out Championship side Millwall 1-0 after a tense, hard‑fought encounter at The Den. The match, which marked the first meeting between the two clubs since 1993, unfolded with Newcastle initially dominating possession but struggling to break the deadlock, while Millwall threatened to overturn the odds on several occasions. The early stages saw Newcastle create the first clear chance when Jacob Murphy curled a shot over the bar, signalling the visitors' intent to seize control. Shortly thereafter, Millwall’s young goalkeeper Filip Marschall, making his debut, was called into action in the 15th minute, saving a powerful strike from Willock and forcing the ball back to left‑back Elkan Baggott rather than allowing the ball to fall to Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa.
The Magpies continued to press, and a corner delivered by Murphy was headed narrowly wide by Sven Botman, who almost found the far post. Millwall, despite being the underdogs, responded with vigor. Their 15‑year‑old midfielder Regan Anderson was introduced late in the game, becoming the club’s second‑youngest ever player.
The Lions also generated set‑piece danger, with Camiel Neghli’s free‑kick finding Caleb Taylor, whose soaring header drifted just outside the post. In the 30th minute, a long‑range effort from Fabian Schar took a substantial deflection and rattled the side‑netting, leaving Marschall stranded but unable to prevent a goal. The first half concluded without a breakthrough, the score remaining level at 0‑0. The second half began with Millwall’s Jenson Metcalfe unleashing a powerful strike that sailed just over the bar within two minutes of the restart, followed by a free‑kick that produced a header from captain Jake Cooper, which also drifted wide.
Newcastle’s attempts continued, but they struggled to impose themselves, with Harvey Barnes managing only a tame effort at the 65‑minute mark, easily saved by Marschall. Manager Matthias Jaissle, seeking to unlock the deadlock, introduced Anthony Elanga and recent signing Matias Fernandez‑Pardo.
However, Millwall’s central defensive pairing of Cooper and Taylor held firm, repelling wave after wave of Newcastle attacks. The closest the home side came to scoring came in the 79th minute when substitute Tairyk Arconte broke free from Tino Livramento, only to see his shot rebound off the near post. With the clock winding down, Newcastle finally found the breakthrough.
In the 81st minute, Lewis Hall delivered a low cross into the six‑yard box, which Willock flicked past the Millwall defense and into the net, securing a vital lead. The goal sparked celebrations among the visitors, who now needed to protect their slender advantage for the remaining minutes. Post‑match, Lewis Hall praised the manager’s influence, stating, "There was a lot of negativity before everything happened and as soon as the gaffer came in, he's been top, as well as all of the coaching staff.
The way he's got us playing is amazing and I can speak on behalf of everyone – we're really enjoying playing under him. We knew it was going to be tough. Whenever you come away in the cup, anything can happen, so we're really proud of the win and to keep a clean sheet as well." Willock reflected on the team's performance, noting, "We had a lot of chances in the first half, but we said at half‑time that we needed to take our chances. Thankfully, in the second half we did, we got a goal and won the game.
We won this competition before so it's very important to us. We've got a new coach and a lot of new players and we wanted to start the season well.
I feel like we started it really well. We need to continue, and this was a big game in keeping that momentum." Jaissle, speaking to Sky Sports, expressed satisfaction with the result and the team's resilience: "We're really happy.
Job done. It's never going to be easy here at Millwall in a cup match, so we knew about that challenge and we faced it. It was about patience, but also being passionate, being tough, collecting the second balls and being efficient in front of their goal.
We used the chance and therefore I'm really proud. We matched the physical challenge quite well and made a step in the right direction compared to the first half against Bournemouth.
We brought the fundamentals onto the pitch, therefore I'm pleased. Joe is doing an excellent job.
Since we joined, already in pre‑season, you saw that there is potential. I'm really happy with the start so far. I think we show unity on the pitch and off the pitch already after such a short amount of time.
But again, we are realistic. We're happy, we're grateful for that start and now the focus is already towards Leeds.
I love it – English football. Coming out for an evening match and knowing that atmosphere is something you dream about.
It's a privilege." The victory not only advances Newcastle to the next round of the Carabao Cup but also provides a morale boost for a squad undergoing a transition under Jaissle’s leadership. The win underscores the importance of composure in knockout football, where a single moment—such as Willock’s flick‑on—can determine the outcome. As Newcastle look ahead to their upcoming fixtures, including a challenging tie against Leeds United, the team will aim to build on this hard‑earned success and maintain the defensive solidity that saw them keep a clean sheet against a determined Millwall side.