Hard graft, humility and fighting for team-mates: three qualities not shown by a certain Jack Grealish this week.

They are also a trio of traits demanded by the Premier League's most experienced boss, David Moyes, who banished the once £100million man Grealish to the naughty step for missing training without permission.

News of his latest act of ill-discipline dominated every conversation on the Merseyside waterfront before this full-blooded contest with Newcastle but Grealish was not missed a jot as his youthful and energetic replacements put on a show.

Goals from James Garner, Hayden Hackney and Thierno Barry were enough to send Moyes and Co to the Carabao Cup quarter-final and within sight of their first trophy since 1995, something the 63-year-old boss and these loyal fans crave above anything.

Moyes made the decision to drop and fine Grealish alongside chief executive Angus Kinnear. It is unknown if he will return for Monday's league game, also against Newcastle. The boss would not comment on the situation but said he supported the club decision to drop him.

'The one thing about Everton is that we have got really good values behind it,' he said. 'All the players stand up to the values and accept the values, on the pitch and off the pitch.

'From that point of view, I think the players did a brilliant job. It's a small squad we have got, we are limited in some areas but we are doing our best to keep challenging. You can see what it meant to the supporters, this is a big moment for them. There's humility about us tonight.'

Giant-slayers Fleetwood Town are up next. Given the way they toppled champions Arsenal on Tuesday, that will be no easy feat, but a trip to Highbury is all that stands between the Toffees and a first domestic cup semi-final since 2015-16.

Newcastle, meanwhile, look a pale imitation of the great team that beat Liverpool to win this competition in 2025 and the jury remains out on Matthias Jaissle. He lambasted his side's lack of maturity and said: 'It is shocking and it is frustrating as well.

'You need to be more mature and more clinical in these situations. Just clear it. It is a learning process but we don't have the time, we need to learn fast, especially with these young lads which is not an excuse any more.'

Fans around the country have tended to see the Carabao Cup as a chance to save some money in recent years and Everton supporters have grumbled at Moyes and former boss Sean Dyche for having a similar attitude with line-ups.

But a full house of 51,894 here – including 8,000 of the travelling Toon army – indicated that both teams were taking this seriously. Both mid-table with inconsistent form, this was a real chance for success.

Even the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, knew that and was in attendance alongside his wife Marie-France. There was an obvious joke to be made around this week's budget, which has given a helping hand to those in need this winter.

Given the Grealish-shaped hole in Moyes's team and the obvious lack of numbers in multiple positions, the Everton top brass might have fancied getting in Burnham's ear to get the chancellor's phone number and ask for a leg-up too.

Moyes has had to muddle through the season with a dearth of outfielders following a botched transfer window, but he has made the best of a tricky situation – one that was not helped by Grealish's actions.

Any frustration at those off-the-field issues was parked on the night, though, as Everton found themselves two ahead at half-time. It was a scoreline to leave Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle cursing after a string of missed chances.

As it was, Everton weathered the storm thanks to Jordan Pickford and several last-ditch blocks.

Despite Newcastle's territorial advantages, the Toffees settled and were first to strike on 34 minutes. It came through Grealish's direct replacement for a starting berth, Tyrique George, winning possession and, via Hackney, feeding Garner to pass into the far corner.

Hackney soon turned from provider to goal-scorer, although referee Farai Hallam might claim an assist. Good officiating saw him play an advantage when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was hauled down when charging goalwards.

Barry picked up a loose ball and fed Hackney who volleyed home, making it look easy when he could have easily fired over the bar. Seconds earlier, Harvey Barnes had been denied by Pickford but Newcastle were undone by a motoring counter-attack.

Moyes would be delighted with the two goals but arguably more buoyed by the defensive rearguard that followed. Jaissle responded by throwing on three half-time changes in Yoane Wissa, Joelinton and Anthony Elanga.

None of them worked as Everton played with their hearts on their sleeves in a warrior-like defensive display that had this new stadium rocking like rarely before. James Tarkowski put his body on the line and Sunderland lad Pickford made several inspired stops.

Barry put the icing on the cake on 69 minutes when Garner robbed Amar Dedic of possession and Dewsbury-Hall teed up the No9 to finish with composure and help his team one giant step closer to ending that trophy drought.

No Grealish? No problem. The Manchester City loanee, who showed his admirable side earlier in the day when he gave £10,000 to help an ill fan, has let his team-mates down with this latest episode.

But with a collection of young talents thriving, mixed with some soldier-like experienced heads and a boss with an appetite for silverware, Everton do not need Grealish right now.

This night was one to forget for him and Jaissle's work-in-progress Newcastle, who are a shadow of the halcyon days of Eddie Howe's cup-winning side, despite pulling one back late on through captain Dan Burn's header.

Everton fans including Mr Burnham, meanwhile, will have March 21 and a potential final at Wembley circled in their diaries.