NEWCASTLE United's Carling Cup hopes were ended last night by the striker who couldn't buy a goal in the Premiership last season.

While the top flight's top scorer, Alan Shearer, was forced to wait until extra-time before being called into action, West Brom's substitute Lee Hughes proved the match-winner with a 101st minute strike.

Hughes spent a frustrating time last term as his beloved Baggies were relegated, and he failed to find the target in the Premiership.

A first-half own goal by Shola Ameobi was cancelled out by Laurent Robert, but a mistake by Andy Griffin led to the extra-time goal. Neil Clement tore down the left side of Newcastle's defence, and with the back four backing off, Clement slipped a simple ball into the path of Hughes.

He was played on-side by Olivier Bernard, and slid the ball past Steve Harper.

A late attacking surge by Newcastle produced numerous corners, but West Brom were full value for their win.

Sir Bobby Robson made six changes from the side which beat Portsmouth 3-0 on Saturday.

Harper came in for Shay Given and was handed the captain's armband with Shearer and Gary Speed on bench duty.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper was making only his second start of the season, the last in the 1-0 win in Breda in the UEFA Cup.

Also out went Aaron Hughes, on the bench, Lee Bowyer (flu) and Andy O'Brien,

Along with Harper, in came Andy Griffin, Steven Caldwell, Nolberto Solano, Hugo Viana and Lomana LuaLua, who was making only his 19th start for the Magpies, and was keen to make his mark.

In the third minute he took a ball from Robert on the left of the box and cut inside former Darlington favourite Sean Gregan but his shot was straight at Russell Hoult.

Five minutes later he fired a 20-yard shot just wide.

The Baggies' best chance of the opening quarter came when former Sunderland full-back Bernt Haas robbed Robert in his own half and raced 50 yards only to fire horribly wide of the target.

LuaLua hit the bar after 13 minutes after Steven Caldwell had headed Robert's corner into the six-yard box.

Shola Ameobi should have scored after 15 minutes. Viana hit a raking pass into his stride and he cut inside the defender only to hit his left foot effort wide.

Newcastle were in total control but fell behind just before the half hour when a corner from Macedonian international Artim Sakiri was flicked on by Rob Hulse only for Ameobi's attempted clearance to fly off his foot into the net.

Viana had a shot saved by Hoult, then LuaLua crossed from the right and an unmarked Ameobi headed against the post from six yards. Jermaine Jenas was soon as guilty as Ameobi for a glaring miss.

Robert's corner found the England midfielder unmarked but his header from point-blank range was straight at Hoult.

As half-time approached the home crowd grew increasingly frustrated with Newcastle's attacking threat limited to long-range efforts from Viana and Nolberto Solano.

At the interval Robson had seen enough and in his desire to see the Magpies get a grip on midfield Gary Speed replaced the largely ineffective Viana.

Newcastle struggled to settle into their rhythm after the break and LuaLua was again their biggest threat.

On 52 minutes he was on the end of a Solano cross only for his acrobatic overhead to fly over the bar.

A foul on the striker a minute later gave Robert the chance to test Hoult with a 35-yard free kick, but it was beaten away.

As if on cue the shouts of 'Shearer, Shearer' went up just as the home side equalised after 65 minutes. Robert cut in from the left and exchanged passes with Ameobi before burying a left-footed drive into the corner of Hoult's net.

LuaLua could have won it, but but his attempted curler found the outstretched fingers of Hoult.

The best chance of the final 15 minutes fell to Speed, and in the second minute of extra time Phil Gilchrist almost sliced into his own net. But then came Hughes' heart-breaking winner.

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