YES, they were playing against a Morecambe side that had shipped five goals at home to Cambridge United last weekend. Yes, they were playing against ten men for the best part of an hour. But for all that they should have been expected to reach the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, this was still a remarkable night for Newcastle United, who claimed their biggest win since Sir Bobby Robson oversaw an eight-goal demolition of Sheffield Wednesday in 1999.

A much-changed Magpies side ran riot at the Mazuma Stadium, underlining both the depth of the squad Steve Bruce has assembled at St James’ Park and the successful way in which the current Magpies manager has tempered the club’s tendency to embarrass itself in games like this. Previous Newcastle sides have had similarly inviting opportunities in the cup competitions, only to come up with increasingly farcical ways of shooting themselves in the foot.

There was no such drama last night, with Bruce’s side successfully setting up a trip to another League Two side, Newport County, next week. Perform with the same professionalism and ruthlessness at Rodney Parade, and they will be in the League Cup quarter-finals for the first time in four years.

Last night was a night for thumbing through the record books, with Newcastle scoring five goals before half-time for the first time since the final day of the 1992-93 season when Kevin Keegan’s side received the First Division trophy after putting six goals past Leicester City.

Joelinton scored twice in the opening 31 minutes – a notable event in itself – with Miguel Almiron, Jacob Murphy and Isaac Hayden also finding the target before the interval.

Jamaal Lascelles added a sixth goal in the second half, and while Newcastle’s players eased up in the closing stages, their lack of late edge was understandable. If anything, their failure to inflict even more damage before a Sam Lavelle own goal completed the scoring in stoppage time was an act of mercy.

With Bruce having made nine changes – Lascelles and Hayden were the only players to survive from the side that started on Sunday – the fringe players drafted into the starting side could be split into two distinct camps.

For the likes of DeAndre Yedlin and Murphy, who buzzed around effectively on the right-hand side from the off, last night’s game provided a rare opportunity to catch the eye of potential suitors as they look to secure a move away from Tyneside ahead of next month’s transfer deadline.

For those like Matt Ritchie, Almiron and Joelinton, who will be remaining beyond October 5, it was a chance to influence Bruce’s selection for Sunday’s Premier League game at Tottenham, when Newcastle will attempt to atone for Sunday’s lacklustre defeat to Brighton.

When it came to Joelinton, Newcastle’s £40m man who has been cast into the shadows since the summer arrival of Callum Wilson, the verdict will have been mixed. In the space of the opening ten minutes, the Brazilian displayed both the good and bad of his attacking capabilities.

The positive aspect was on display five minutes in as Joelinton opened the scoring. Receiving a square ball from Almiron, who had taken possession from Emil Krafth and found space on the right of the box, Newcastle’s number nine opened up his body to sweep home a slick first-time finish. It was the kind of composed finish that has not always come naturally to the forward, whose travails last season had Bruce tearing his hair out on an all-too-regular basis.

Bruce’s frustrations were apparent five minutes later as Joelinton’s lack of a killer instinct returned. Standing just about on the goalline as Murphy floated a cross towards the back post, he should have had the easy task of nudging the ball home. Instead, he stood and watched as Murphy’s centre rebounded off the upright and was hacked away. Joelinton clearly thought the ball was going in, but an Alan Shearer or even a Wilson would surely have made sure.

Not, however, that the incident ever looked like affecting the outcome of the game. Morecambe were comprehensively outclassed throughout as they shipped five or more goals for the second time in five days. Had the terraces at the Mazuma Stadium been full of home supporters, perhaps Newcastle’s players would have been put off their stride. As it was, with their shouts echoing around the empty stands, they were able to stroll past their opponents with their superiority clear to see.

Their second goal came 20 minutes in, with Murphy’s through ball releasing Almiron clear through the middle. The Paraguayan strolled eased around Mark Halstead in the Morecambe goal, and calmly steadied himself before rifling into the roof of the net.

Seven minutes later and it was 3-0, with Murphy claiming the goal that his bright, purposeful performance deserved. Picking up the ball from Krafth, the winger cut infield before curling a fine left-footed finish into the corner from 22 yards. If this was to be Murphy’s final Newcastle performance before an anticipated loan move in the next week or so, he could not have done much more to make a positive impression.

Three became four shortly after the half-hour mark, with Joelinton doubling his tally for the night. Lascelles’ headed clearance caught the Morecambe defence completely out of position, and having picked up the ball close to the halfway line, Joelinton cut infield from the left and took aim from 25 yards. Halstead appeared to be deceived by the flight of the forward’s shot, and the ball whistled past him and into the net.

Morecambe’s task was already impossible by that stage, but the home side’s night became even more traumatic a couple of minutes later as they were rightly reduced to ten men. Toumani Diagouraga’s frustration was clear to see as he flew into a reckless tackle on Sean Longstaff, and once the Morecambe midfielder made contact with his opponent’s leg, referee Darren Drysdale had no option other than to reach for a straight red card.

With a man advantage, it was simply a task of how many Newcastle would score, and a fifth goal duly arrived on the stroke of half-time. This time it was Hayden profiting from some more questionable goalkeeping from Halstead, with the midfielder taking aim from 25 yards and scoring with a shot that swerved slightly but still ended up finding the middle of the net.

Bruce introduced Ryan Fraser at half-time, but there was no let-up in intensity from the visitors, who claimed a sixth within six minutes of the restart. Matt Ritchie swung over a corner from the right, and Lascelles eased ahead of his marker to plant home a powerful header from eight yards.

Ritchie was also involved in the goal that completed the scoring in stoppage time, with the midfielder back-heeling the ball into Lavelle, who was powerless to prevent himself deflecting past his own keeper.

Newcastle slackened off somewhat in the second half, but their loss of edge was understandable. Indeed, if anything, their failure to inflict even more damage on Morecambe could be interpreted as an act of mercy.