Newcastle beat Crystal Palace on penalties after a goalless draw at St James’ Park on Wednesday to reach the fourth round of the competition for just the second time in six seasons. The League Cup appears to be a realistic opportunity for Newcastle, who are also flying in the Premier League, with six wins from their last seven league games taking them to third place. Eddie Howe’s side were handed another home draw against his former employers and fellow Premier League side AFC Bournemouth in the next round. The Magpies have never won the League Cup, but Schmeichel is keen to see how things pan out with the competition particularly unpredictable this season. “When I picked Newcastle I was thinking don’t take the number 16, they are full of confidence,” Schmeichel revealed to Sky Sports. “They are a team to avoid. They have to remember that Liverpool or Manchester City will still be there. Hopefully Manchester United will be there, there is still potential for a strong team. “We’ve seen the last three days in this competition, anything can happen. It’s really interesting to watch because you see something different.”
