Eddie Howe, the manager of Newcastle, stated after his team’s victory over Manchester City to advance to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup that his players are hungry to “go one better” than their runner-up position in the competition during the previous campaign.
Alexander Isak scored the game-winning goal for a Newcastle team that was primarily made up of reserves and came out strong in the second half to defeat a City team that had made significant lineup changes.
The previous year’s runner-up, Newcastle, who fell to Manchester United in the championship game, made ten substitutions from the team that won 8-0 at Sheffield United on Sunday. Despite these changes, the Magpies scarcely got a kick in the first half as the visitors dominated play.
Isak scored the game-winning goal for the Magpies after Joelinton set him up with some excellent play before halftime. Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon were both substituted in after the break.
“Pre-game, the run we had last year was in our thoughts,” Howe said in an interview with Sky Sports. “Despite the fact that the championship game may have had an impact on our league results, it served as motivation for us and contributed to the success of our season. When we think back on it, we feel a strong sense of pride.
At this point, there is still a significant distance to travel, but our goal is to make it at least one step further if we can. We are still engaged in battle there.”
Howe’s men were fortunate to still be tied after 45 minutes, as they shown discipline but were lethargic in the face of City’s possessional dominance. Julian Alvarez had two good opportunities that he failed to capitalize on.
Even though Pep Guardiola elected to make seven substitutions of his own, including handing teenage midfielder Oscar Bobb his first start, the team still displayed the patient probing that has been his trademark.
However, the home team thoroughly deserved their victory thanks to their performance in the second half. They fought with a lot of vigor and determination and played the most of the game against a City team that was unable to react.
It was only the second time in their previous 38 games in all competitions that Pep Guardiola’s team has been defeated inside of the last quarter of play.
After suffering three consecutive defeats, Newcastle have now gone four games without suffering a setback. As a reward for their victory on Wednesday, they will get the opportunity to play the team that defeated them in the championship game the previous year in the fourth round.
Isak had to leave the game due to an injury on the hour mark, which was the only setback for Newcastle, who were scheduled to play Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in the Champions League and then Burnley on Saturday in the Premier League.
An excellent game of two halves was played at St. James’s Park, and it was clear why these two teams are so prominent in the English game right now, despite the fact that both of them have through a great deal of change in recent years.
City intended to take control of the game and methodically dismantle their opponent, a strategy that they were able to smoothly transition into during the first half of the match but which resulted in no significant breakthroughs.
Kalvin Phillips saw plenty of the ball and recycled it smartly inside the Newcastle half, while Jack Grealish gave the home defense something to keep an eye on. Bobb was active and produced some lovely touches.
If Alvarez had showed the kind of predatory finishing that has defined his season thus far with his two opportunities, City may very well be staring at a fourth-round tie of their own. The first opportunity was the better of the two, but it was saved by a boot from Nick Pope.
But despite the fact that they have a weaker side, Newcastle are a well-trained unit when they are not in possession of the ball. They were able to maintain their composure until halftime, and then they unleashed their full potential in an outstanding second period.
The turning point was the substitution of experienced players Gordon and Guimaraes for first-year players Lewis Hall and 17-year-old Lewis Miley, but the Magpies as a whole played much better after the switch.
The apathy was vanished, and in its stead was a spearhead of energy and intent aimed directly into the center of City’s defensive line.
“It was a game of two halves,” Howe stated after the game. “The first was a difficult contest, and City played quite well. Although we didn’t win, we did a good job of defending because we didn’t have the ball.
“[During the] second half, we were outstanding in virtually every facet of the game, both defensively and offensively.” We were effective in our attacks, and the victory was one that we probably deserved in the end.
“There were some tweaks in strategy [at the halftime break], but the most important thing was belief. This does not reflect poorly on the guys we let go, but it does show that the guys we brought in made a significant contribution. When we had possession of the ball, we were by far the superior squad.
Isak has had a tremendously successful second season in England, and he was there once again to finish off a powerful, driving run and a low ball that was delivered by Joelinton. Isak has been outstanding in this role.
After that, they continued to push, but they also played excellent game management, which allowed them to keep City at bay despite the fact that Phil Foden, Matheus Nunes, and Jeremy Doku were brought into the game.
The only opportunity that the away team had to force a penalty shootout was a shot that was taken by Rico Lewis, but it was just wide of the post.
