Just as it seemed Liverpool were taking a hold on the tie they were reduced to 10 men on 52 minutes. Swedish midfielder Adjarevic was shown a straight red card for a clash with tall Newcastle striker Carroll by the halfway line. Adjarevic jumped into the big frontman and as the two collapsed in a heap a stray hand from the Swede made contact with Carroll’s face.
It didn’t appear to be deliberate but the referee deemed it as violent conduct.
The sending-off seemed to inspire Liverpool. Lindfield broke free on the right after 57 minutes and his snap-shot from warmed Cook’s hands on a bitterly cold night. Then two minutes later from an almost identical angle Ryan rasping effort wasn’t held again by Cook and Lindfield rolled the rebound home from six yards for his second.
Newcastle then saw Kazenga Lua-Lua, cousin of former Magpies forward Lomana, also given his marching orders on 63 minutes, presumably for something he said to referee Boyeson.
Newcastle again saw their path to goal blocked by Spearing, as he cleared off the line once more with 14 minutes to go. But Ryan wrapped things up with another stunning long-range drive on 83 minutes.
