THERE might not be any authentic Geordies in the Newcastle team once the Saudi money starts truly gushing into Tyneside.
So this was a night to cherish for the Toon Army, and for the local hero, Sean Longstaff, as his early double in front of the Gallowgate End propelled the club to its first Wembley final in 24 years.
The big midfielder, Newcastle born and bred, was serenaded with cries of "he’s one of our own" from a home crowd who thought they might be able to enjoy a significant win without much anxiety or tension.
A late red card for Bruno Guimaraes, for an X-rated studs-up tackle on Sam Edozie, meant that it wasn’t as straightforward as all that.
The Brazilian playmaker will be banned for three matches but returns in time for the Carabao Cup Final on February 26.
It caused some late nerves but ultimately it could not detract from Longstaff’s big night.
Another North-Easterner, Dan Burn, had scored in the quarter-final victory over Leicester here, so these two can boast that they had played starring roles in the Cup run which has truly kick-started the Geordie Arabia revolution.
Now, in the Carabao Cup Final, they will face Manchester United - barring a miracle from Nottingham Forest in the second leg at Old Trafford - seeking a first major trophy in 54 years and the first Wembley final success in 68 years.
This was Eddie Howe’s 600th game as a manager - and surely no boss in history has reached such a landmark looking so young.
And this was a fine occasion for the Newcastle chief to toast his landmark as struggling Southampton was downed by Longstaff’s twin strikes.
Guimaraes had just curled a long-ranger against the post when he committed his horror challenge on Edozie - VAR sent Paul Tierney to his monitor and he awarded a red card to go with a free-kick in prime James Ward-Prowse territory.
But the Saints skipper’s dead-ball effort caught Isak square in the face - a painful blow but a worthwhile one in the circumstances.
