Wembley is only 14 miles from here but, despite Newcastle’s victory, this was light years from where they’ll need to be if they’re to beat Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Eddie Howe will argue that the final is a new day and that his team will rise to the big occasion. He’ll also point to this being an important win in its own right, even if it was unsightly, and boy was it that.
For the large part, it was like watching a pre-season friendly, only minus the nice weather, and both teams were as guilty as each other.