Harvey Barnes Shines in Newcastle's 3-2 Carabao Cup Victory Over West Brom

Harvey Barnes came off the bench to torment his former club, firing a second-half brace as Newcastle United edged a wild 3-2 Carabao Cup tie against West Brom at St James’ Park.

The night had started with a jolt. Isaac Price stunned the home crowd with a superb free-kick, bending his effort beyond the reach of the Newcastle goalkeeper to give the Baggies the lead and briefly silence the noise on Tyneside.

Newcastle needed a response and found it through a new face. Bazoumana Touré, on debut, dragged the hosts level before the interval, seizing his moment on a night already laced with a sense of renewal around the club.

That sense only grew before kick-off, when Newcastle unveiled new signing Nico González on the pitch. The midfielder, brought in as Matthias Jaissle continues to reinforce his squad before the transfer window closes, was presented to the St James’ Park crowd in a clear statement of intent for the season ahead.

On the pitch, though, it was another substitute who stole the show.

Barnes entered the fray and immediately changed the tempo. He put Newcastle ahead shortly after the break, finishing clinically to tilt a frantic cup tie in the hosts’ favour and raise the volume again inside the ground.

West Brom refused to fold. The pressure swung back their way when they earned a penalty with just over 10 minutes to play. Price, already with one spectacular goal to his name, stepped up and coolly converted from the spot in the 77th minute to make it 2-2, dragging the Championship side level and threatening to rip up the script.

The joy didn’t last long.

Four minutes later, Barnes struck again. Against his former club, he found the decisive touch, restoring Newcastle’s lead and finally breaking West Brom’s resistance. It was ruthless. It was the kind of finish that decides cup ties and sends teams through.

The 3-2 victory booked Newcastle’s place in the third round and underlined the depth Jaissle is building: a debutant on the scoresheet, a new signing paraded, and a high-impact substitute delivering the knockout blow.

On a night of new beginnings and familiar drama, Barnes made sure Newcastle’s Carabao Cup campaign moved on – and did it at the expense of the club he used to call home.