Nick Pope was hailed as the "best goalkeeper in the world" after his 10th successive clean sheet helped put Newcastle on the brink of Wembley.

Nick Pope was hailed as the "best goalkeeper in the world" after his 10th successive clean sheet helped put Newcastle on the brink of Wembley.
The England international produced two superb second-half saves from Southampton forward Che Adams as the Magpies secured a vital 1-0 win from a breathless Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at St Mary's.
Joelinton set aside a disallowed goal and a shocking miss to claim the visitors' 73rd-minute winner, while Saints substitute Adam Armstrong had a leveller ruled out for handball following VAR intervention.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who warned there is still a long way to go in the tie ahead of next week's return meeting, saluted the impact of his in-form keeper, while Magpies midfielder Bruno Guimaraes went a step further.
"One goal is important, we could score more but most important was to be one goal in front of Southampton," the Brazilian midfielder told Sky Sports.
"I want to thank Nick Pope, I think he's the best goalkeeper in the world. Let's keep it going."
Speaking of a player he signed from Burnley in the summer, Howe said: "Nick made some big saves today, especially the first one from Adams (which) I thought was a big moment in the match.
"He stood up tall for us, as he has done all season.
"It (10 clean sheets in a row) is a brilliant thing for Nick. I think he deserves that accolade. He's been excellent on and offer the pitch in every respect since he signed for the club.
"I can't speak highly enough of him, I can't praise him enough and I can't rate him highly enough. He's a brilliant shot stopper and I think he's in a very good place currently."
After Joelinton was controversially adjudged to have handled before finishing in the 39th minute, the game burst into life following the restart.
The Magpies midfielder somehow blazed over with the goal gaping before Pope quelled mounting Southampton momentum by denying Adams when clean through and expertly clawing away a later effort.
Alexander Isak then teed up Joelinton for the decisive goal before Newcastle academy graduate Armstrong was frustrated by a Stockley Park review having bundled home with the aid of an arm.
Southampton finished a frenetic encounter with 10 men after defender Duje Caleta-Car was dismissed for a second booking four minutes from the end.
"I don't think we were at our best today but I felt we did enough to deserve to win," said Howe.
"There were lots of talking points, obviously VAR involved.
"It's half-time, we're 1-0 up, that's all it is. We're pleased with our work tonight but there's a long way to go."
While Newcastle boosted their quest for a first major domestic trophy since 1955, Southampton were left frustrated and with work to do at St James' Park.
Saints boss Nathan Jones, who also praised Pope, was pleased with his team’s display as he expressed further VAR disappointment on the back of having two goals ruled out during Saturday's 1-0 Premier League loss to Aston Villa.
"You can't celebrate a goal any more," said the Welshman.
"You can't show any emotion because you know it's going to VAR one way or another, unless someone picks the ball up from the goalkeeper, runs through 11 players and slots it past the keeper without anything else happening.
"We thought we scored two good goals on the weekend, both overruled by VAR. Tonight is exactly the same.
"I'm frustrated but it's really difficult because these are one-off games.
"The performance level is there, it's just the edges that make or break good teams and seasons – we're just coming out on the wrong end of it."

Guimaraes hails 'best goalkeeper in the world' Pope after Magpies win

Nathan Ake proved the unlikely match-winner as Manchester City edged out title rivals Arsenal 1-0 in a tense FA Cup fourth-round tie on Friday.

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Nathan Ake proved the unlikely match-winner as Manchester City edged out title rivals Arsenal 1-0 in a tense FA Cup fourth-round tie on Friday.
The Netherlands defender steered home a low shot in the 64th minute at the Etihad Stadium as City landed the first blow in their trilogy of clashes with the Gunners over the coming months.
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Arsenal, the Premier League leaders, had enjoyed the better of the first half, with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Leandro Trossard both forcing good saves from Stefan Ortega.
Yet, while much had been made of the growing touchline rivalry between City manager Pep Guardiola and his former assistant Mikel Arteta, for a seventh time in eight meetings it was ultimately the old master who prevailed.
Guardiola, perhaps aware that a victory could also have a psychological impact heading into next month's league encounter between the sides, went with a strong side and made just two changes to Arteta's six.
The Gunners, however, retained all their usual energy and, in a frantic start, seemed determined not to allow City to establish their customary early rhythm.
As a result the hosts played more direct than normal and the results were mixed. There were some promising attacks, but Erling Haaland seemed uncomfortable with the altered plan and, despite plenty of touches, the Norwegian's impact was minimal.
The Gunners initially looked the brighter team and Tomiyasu stung the palms of City’s number two goalkeeper Ortega with a ferocious shot in the fifth minute.
Trossard, making his first start for his new club, also forced a good save from the German after breaking into the area on the left.
City had a half-chance when Haaland broke clear after a Rob Holding miskick, but Gunners keeper Matt Turner met him outside the area.
The ball looped into the air and Haaland adjusted to attempt an ambitious overhead kick, but Tomiyasu comfortably cleared.
City's best chance of the first half came when Kevin De Bruyne cut inside and curled a left-foot effort narrowly wide, but Arsenal went close again when Eddie Nketiah poked wide from a Trossard cross.
City suffered a blow just before the interval when defender John Stones was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury, but they returned for the second half more determined to take control.
De Bruyne began to run through the middle more and passes became slicker. The attack was enlivened further when Julian Alvarez came off the bench in the 58th minute.
The change paid off six minutes later when the World Cup winner thumped the base of the post with a powerful long-range drive and Jack Grealish laid off to Ake from the rebound.
The Dutchman had time and space and calmly placed a shot beyond the reach of Turner.
It proved a decisive strike and City comfortably and efficiently closed out the game with Arsenal failing to threaten again.
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Nathan Ake strike hands Manchester City narrow FA Cup win over Arsenal

Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until the summer of 2025.

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Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until the summer of 2025.
The 32-year-old England right-back, who joined the Magpies from Atletico Madrid last January, has helped Eddie Howe's side keep 16 clean sheets in all competitions this season.
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Trippier told the club's official website: "I'm absolutely delighted that I've extended my contract here. I've got a lot of thank yous to make to the manager, owners, fans and my team-mates.
"When I first arrived here, they made me feel so welcome and I want to help the club achieve great things. It's a positive moment for us players in the club and there’s no place I'd rather be."
Newcastle manager Howe added: "It's a fitting reward for the season he's had.
"He's been outstanding both on and off the pitch, showing real leadership at a difficult moment when he first arrived, and now he's excelled in a team that's doing well. I can't praise him enough for everything he's given the club."
Trippier has played a key role for Howe's side as they have kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League this season and has also registered six assists and scored one goal.
The former Tottenham full-back, who has won 40 caps for England, was Newcastle's first signing under their Saudi owners when the club paid Atletico £12million plus add-ons during last year's January transfer window.
Howe's side, currently third in the Premier League, are next in action on Tuesday when they play Southampton at home in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
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Kieran Trippier signs Newcastle contract extension until 2025

West Ham boss David Moyes insists Michail Antonio won't be leaving West Ham this month.

David Moyes insists there is no chance of Michail Antonio leaving West Ham this month.
Antonio seems to be angling for a move having this week revealed on The Footballer's Football Podcast that he has been in contact with other clubs.
The striker said: "Honestly, I've not ruled anything out. That's all I can say, nothing has been ruled out. There are talks so whatever happens, happens."
But Moyes, who lost new signing Danny Ings to an injury on his debut against Everton last weekend, has no intention of letting West Ham's all-time top Premier League goalscorer leave.
"Well, it's not the club talking about Micky Antonio, I think Micky is the one talking about it," said the Hammers boss.
"Micky said it but we here have got no intention of doing anything. Sometimes players choose to do that, some of them want to go.
"But at the moment we want Mick here, we want him playing well, we want him scoring goals, and we're happy to have him."
Losing Ings was a major blow for Moyes, who spent £12million to prise the 30-year-old frontman from Aston Villa in a bid to inject more goals into his side.
Moyes is already without Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca with a knee injury, leaving Antonio as West Ham's only fit senior striker for Monday's FA Cup tie at Derby.
"Unfortunately Danny picked up an injury in the first 15 or 20 seconds of the game," said Moyes.
"We don't think it's that bad and he'd be cup-tied on Monday anyway so we've got a little bit of grace there.
"Hopefully he's not going to miss too much. He's had an injection in his knee and hopefully he can get back quickly."
Moyes does not expect to go back into the market to replace Ings, however.
"No not really, I think in the main we've spent money on Danny which we weren't necessarily expecting to do but we felt we could add to what we've got," he said.
"At the moment I don't necessarily see us spending more money, but I don't want to say that and then you tell me you told me something different because this world changes very quickly."

David Moyes confirms Michail Antonio will be staying at West Ham

Harry Kane may miss out on the chance to become Tottenham's all-time leading scorer due to illness.

Illness could see Harry Kane miss out on the chance to become Tottenham's all-time leading scorer in Saturday's FA Cup tie at Preston.
The Spurs forward went level with Jimmy Greaves on Monday when he hit the winner at Fulham to score his 266th goal for the club.
Boss Antonio Conte revealed afterwards Kane had struggled with a fever and he missed training on Wednesday and Thursday this week before he returned on Friday ahead of the weekend clash at Sky Bet Championship outfit Preston.
"We have only one problem, with Harry, because he played the last game full of illness," Tottenham assistant Cristian Stellini revealed.
"He didn't train during the week, he trained this morning, but he wants to come with us and be available.
"We know very well that Harry wants to play every game, so we are happy that Harry is involved in the game, but the only situation we have to take care of is this."
Kane could earn an overdue rest anyway with Richarlison pushing to make his first start since a hamstring injury following last month's World Cup.
Stellini admitted some changes would be made at Deepdale but midweek signing Arnaut Danjuma, who joined on loan from Villarreal on Wednesday, is only set to be named on the bench.
Tottenham are pushing to make further additions this month and talks continue with Sporting Lisbon over the signing of Pedro Porro, the PA news agency understands.
An agreement over the payment structure of Porro's 45million euros (£39.5) release clause still needs to be reached and the attacking full-back looks primed to feature in Sporting's cup final against Porto on Saturday – but there is an expectation a deal will eventually be concluded before Tuesday's deadline.
While potential new recruit Porro could win silverware this weekend, Tottenham continue to seek an end to their trophy drought that dates back to 2008.
But Stellini insisted: "Many times, many times when I was here, we speak about a trophy, a cup to win. I don't want to push, to create pressure on this.
"We have to change the mentality. The last game was a good start-point to change this and with the change of the mentality, you don't have to talk about winning trophies, you have to do it.
"It is difficult to work on the mentality, we try to do it and we want to be a team that can win a trophy."
Conte's future has been a constant talking point recently but his passionate celebrations with the Spurs fans at Craven Cottage on Monday hinted his determination remains as strong as ever to succeed at the club.
"It's very difficult to feel that Antonio is not determined, it's very difficult," Stellini admitted.
"But, the way he celebrated, maybe he can let (people) understand, in my opinion, that he feels love around him. This is really important.
"This is really important, that the fans are with us, with the team, with the players, with the club and with Antonio as well."