A first-half own goal from John Egan has given Newcastle United a 1-0 win over Gillingham in the second round of the Capital One Cup this evening.
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Massadio Haidara posed a threat for the visitors early on, but found himself in an offside position while waiting for a cross.
The hosts appealed for a penalty when Fabricio Coloccini brought Cody McDonald down in the box, but the referee judged the tackle to be a fair one.
The Premier League side continued to see the majority of the possession, and made it count when Egan turned the ball into his own net while trying to defend a Gabriel Obertan cross.
McDonald and Danny Kedwell pressed hard to try to pull one back for Gillingham before the break, while Tim Krul was called into action to deny Matt Fish.
Emmanuel Riviere was involved at the start of the second half as he tried to fire home from a Haidara cross, but he sent his effort just high, while Haidara came close again moments later, smashing a powerful shot onto the crossbar.
Krul had to be alert again at the other end as Gillingham continued to look for an equaliser, but Bradley Dack failed to test the Newcastle keeper with his high finish.
Coloccini looked for a goal as he unleashed an effort from outside the box after a Remy Cabella corner was cleared, but the captain's strike was saved by Stephen Bywater.
A mistake from Krul almost gifted the hosts an equaliser with 20 minutes to go when he gave the ball to Luke Norris, but saved from the Gillingham substitute moments later to make amends.
Newcastle forced a string of corners as the final 10 minutes approached as they looked to end any hopes of a comeback by the League One side, but Cabella and Daryl Janmaat both missed.
Krul had to make a last-gasp save to prevent extra time when Steven Taylor picked out Antonio German, but the header was tipped over to send the Magpies through.
Sian Cowper
