Newcastle reached the third round of the Carling Cup with a hard-earned 3-2 victory over a spirited and talented Accrington Stanley side at the Crown Ground on Wednesday evening.
Ryan Taylor opened the scoring with a screamer for the Toon only to see Ray Putterill level matters with an equally impressive long-range strike just before the break.
However, Shola Ameobi put the visitors back in front just after the restart and Peter Lovenkrands extended their advantage when he volleyed home from close range on 67 minutes.
Sean Hessey pulled a goal back for the home side in injury time and they pressed forward valiantly in the dying seconds for an equaliser but Newcastle survived.
They had just about deserved to because while Accrington showed plenty of vim and vigour, Newcastle had, unsurprisingly, shown the greater attacking threat throughout.
Indeed, Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger had both gone close with headers before Newcastle finally took a deserved lead on 36 minutes, Taylor advancing forward unchallenged from halfway before driving the ball into the top left corner of Ian Dunbavin's net.
It was a stunning strike from Taylor but it was arguably bettered by Putterill right on the stroke of half-time, the Accrington No.10 bending the ball past Krul from 25 yards out after Newcastle had failed to fully clear a throw-in.
Accrington very nearly struck again just after the restart, with Charlie Barnett flashing a beautifully-struck driver just past Krul's right-hand post. However, they fell behind again just moments later. Again a long throw caused problems in the area. Ranger climbed bravely to win the ball in the air, Lovenkrands helped it on and Ameobi pounced, reacting swiftly to turn it past Dunbavin from six yards out.
Newcastle then moved in for the kill. Dunbavin and Dean Winnard were forced into goal-line blocks by Ameobi and Ranger, respectively, in a matter of seconds before Kazenga LuaLua flashed a shot just past the post after nimbly stepping inside his man.
The hosts were wobbling and they duly conceded a third goal on 67 minutes. The fleet-footed LuaLua fired over a low centre from the left wing which was deflected towards his own goal by Hessey. Dunbavin somehow managed to keep it out but Lovenkrands was on hand to acrobatically volley the ball home from two yards out.
Accrington kept battling and Jimmy Ryan and Putterill both drew fine saves out of Krul in the closing 15 minutes before they finally got themselves back into the game in injury time, Hessey driving the ball home from just inside the Newcastle box, barely a minute after LuaLua had struck the foot of the post.
The referee afforded Accrington another two minutes with which to force extra time but they were unable to do so and it was Newcastle who ultimately progressed after a pulsating cup tie.