TOWN were sunk with just seven minutes left as Newcastle edged a Carling Cup thriller.

Kevin Nolan’s close-range strike, after Shola Ameobi nodded down a Ryan Taylor free-kick, was tough on Lee Clark’s side, who were 3-1 up at one stage and did enough to have deserved an extra half hour to continue their assault on the Championship team.

At least pride was firmly restored after Saturday’s setback at Bristol Rovers, with two goals by Theo Robinson (one a penalty) and a Jordan Rhodes strike ensuring a nervy evening for Newcastle.

With Tom Clarke ruled out after knee surgery and Gary Roberts starting a three-match ban after his retrospective red card against Bristol Rovers on Saturday, Town made two enforced changes.

Robinson started up front with Michael Collins coming into central midfield in a 4-4-2 system.

Newcastle made six changes to the side which started their 2-0 Championship win at Crystal Palace.

Among those coming in were Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul, hero of the opening-day draw at West Brom, Hungarian defender Tamas Kadar, former Chelsea star Geremi and highly-rated teenage striker Nile Ranger. The home side, unbeaten this season going into the game, made the early running, with Kazenga LuaLua forcing a corner within 30 seconds.

LuaLua wasted a good 12th-minute opportunity when he blasted well wide, then Joe Skarz did enough to put off Danny Guthrie as he met Jose Enrique’s 17th-minute cross, forcing the home midfielder to shoot wide.

Jordan Rhodes, with a header, and Anthony Pilkington, with a cross-cum-shot, were both off target for Town before Geremi twice came close with headers from home corners.

Town had a let-off when Kevin Nolan’s 34th-minute chipped goal was disallowed for offside.

But home fans were cheering just two minutes later, when Pilkington’s misplaced pass let in Guthrie, who picked his spot with Alex Smithies helpless.

However any thoughts that this was going to be a stroll for Newcastle were soon kicked into touch as Town roared back into the tie with two goals in as many minutes, both from Robinson.

First he pounced to calmly roll a shot past Krul after Kadar miscontrolled a long ball over the top in the 37th minute.

Then, after Robinson tumbled under a challenge from Krul as he raced onto Rhodes’ flick, he ignored the jeers of the home support to beat the keeper from the penalty spot.

Town’s 4,000 strong travelling army were way up in the Gods at the impressive St James’ Park stadium, but they were now out-singing the home corps, and they were up on their feet again as Rhodes set up Pilkington, whose shot was forced away for a corner by Krul.

If Newcastle fans were grumbling going into the break, they were totally silenced 70 seconds after the re-start as Town went 3-1 up.

This time Rhodes, with his head bandaged after a first-half clash with Ryan Taylor, was the man on target, taking the ball round Krul wide out right and netting with a low shot from the most acute of angles.

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Newcastle weren’t going to roll over, however, and they hit back within 60 seconds through Geremi, who had looked dangerous throughout and netted with a simple sidefoot.

This was developing into a highly enjoyable see-saw contest, and after Pilkington and Anthony Kay both had efforts on the home goal, Newcastle levelled in the 64th minute with the second penalty of the tie, substitute Ameobi sending Smithies the wrong way after he had been fouled by Andy Butler.

Argentinian Jonas Gutierrez, another home sub, looked odds on to net after 66 minutes when he broke through, but Smithies pulled off a fine block save.

And on 70, Pilkington was put into space by Robinson, but rifled his shot from the edge of the area too high.