Eddie Howe hailed penalty shoot-out hero Nick Pope as Newcastle United advanced in the Carabao Cup on a night when rivals crashed out elsewhere.

Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea were all knocked out in the third round but the Magpies held their nerve from the spot to book their place in the last 16.

Howe admitted his side weren't at their best against Crystal Palace but said a safe passage was all that mattered, with Newcastle now able to look forward to a fourth round tie after the World Cup break.

A much-changed Newcastle side struggled to hurt Palace in normal time but Chris Wood, Kieran Trippier and Joelinton scored from the spot, and brilliant Pope denied Luka Milivojevic, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Malcolm Ebiowei.

"It's really good to get through, however you do it," said Howe.

"We'd prefer to do it in normal time but if it's penalties you still have to find a way and we're indebted to Nick, who made some great saves.

"When you look behind the goal, he's a great size. The first penalty save was right out of the top drawer. There was a save in the first half as well that was right out of the top drawer. He's been doing that for us all season. He's a very commanding figure but he's kept goal with such low fuss it sort of goes unnoticed the difference he's made."

Howe made eight changes for the game, with Pope, Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff the only survivors from the Southampton line-up. Howe introduced Bruno, Trippier, Sven Botman and Miguel Almiron in the second half and felt his star men made a difference.

Howe added: "We got through and that's the most important thing. It was a very difficult game, a tight game, everything we expected it would be. I don't think it was a great performance. I thought we were a bit disjointed. I think there were valid reasons for that. A lot of the players haven't played for a long period of time. We gave everything but weren't particularly fluid

"I thought we improved with the introduction of the substitutes. They made a real difference but we couldn't force a goal in normal time so we had to do it the hard way."

Asked whether the cup exit of Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs improves Newcastle's chances, Howe said: "We just wanted to be in the next round. We know whoever we face it's going to be difficult. Obviously the more Premier League teams who go out, that probably raises your chances of going further. We'll see who we get before commenting."

The fourth round draw is held on Thursday night.

Howe revealed Callum Wilson has recovered from his illness but the head coach didn't want to risk the striker. There is a fresh injury concern, however, with Ryan Fraser suffering a calf problem. It's not yet clear how serious the problem is and how long Fraser will be out.