9mins Harte's firm header forward released Gillespie to round Forster and finish coolly 0-1

11mins Carney found space down the left and his pull back found Gillespie, who shot home 0-2

Half time: Newcastle 0 Blades 2

86mins A defensive lapse let in Carney and he calmly added a third from 12 yards. 1-2

Full time: Newcastle 0 Blades 3

Stand-in coach Richard Money said:

"We were a bit better in the second half. I think, though, that we have to be realistic.

"They had four or five internationals on the pitch and their young players are between 19-21.

"“Our team are between 16-18, so you are always going to be up against it.

"“I thought we played ourselves into trouble in the first half, but the second was much better.

“We had some young defenders on the pitch who are learning how to play against good movement and experienced players. To put them into that environment is progress.

“We are up against it at the moment and we have a very important cup tie tomorrow against Tottenham. Chris wanted to keep everybody who is going to be involved on Wednesday* out of it last night, but it meant that we had to field a very, very young team.”

(* including Frank Wiafe Danquah, Ryan Donaldson, Mark Doninger, Callum Morris, Tim Krul, Ben Tozer and Fabio Zamblera).

Almost eleven years after his memorable display in the 3-2 victory over Barcelona, Keith Gillespie was on Tyneside once again for a midweek cup fixture.

And the Northern Ireland international returned to haunt his old club, netting twice to condemn a youthful Magpies side to defeat in their first Central League Cup tie.

Gillespie raced into the Newcastle area after nine minutes and eluded the advancing Fraser Forster before clipping the ball home into an unguarded net.

Barely two minutes later he had another, lifting a rising 10 yard shot into the net and ending the game as a contest - although it's debatable whether it had ever really begun.

With almost 550 senior career appearances, 33 year-old Gillespie found himself up against a back four featuring one 16 year-old, two 17 year-olds and an 18 year-old (albeit a matter of hours away from his 19th birthday).

Not far behind in the disparity stakes was 31 year-old Ian Harte with almost 400 appearances for club and country, against a Newcastle side collectively with......none. 

Stand-in coach Richard Money encouraged his charges forward and used all three substitutes, but the lack of experience on show for the home side was all too evident. 

After failing to register a shot on target in the first half, James Marwood struck a free kick and Shane Ferguson tried his luck with a lobbed effort - but neither caused Blades 'keeper Jamie Annerson any problems.  

A late push forward from Newcastle saw striker Nile Ranger head wide from his only real sight of goal, but what was in reality an inexperienced Academy side were never in it.

David Carney then completed the scoring four minutes from the end after a defensive error - the Aussie international midfielder hardly in the veteran class at 24, but having been part of an Everton reserve side who faced us back in 2002.

By then Newcastle had brought on their own Australian, 16 year-old Bradden Inman making his reserve team debut after just a handful of appearances in the U18 side.

Biffa

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