WHAT A TON OF TROUBLE

Super Sandro stings the Bees

- SIMON BIRD

SANDRO TONALI has waited 17 months to set Newcastle alight - and a double strike sent his side into the last four of the Carabao Cup.

The former AC Milan midfielder endured a 10-month betting ban last season and a slow start to his career on Tyneside as the club worked out how to unlock his strengths.

But now the Italian international is looking like the main man, anchoring the midfield and rediscovering his goalscoring touch with his first finish since his debut last season.

Newcastle brushed aside a meek challenge from a depleted Brentford whose miserable away form is a brake on their ambitions.

The Geordies had 51,765 fans in to see Eddie Howe's side reach their second semi-final in three years.