Key Takeaways:
- Newcastle United triumphs 1-0 over Manchester City, advancing to the Carabao Cup fourth round.
- This victory marks Eddie Howe’s first win against Pep Guardiola in 14 managerial attempts.
- Alexander Isak’s 53rd-minute goal was the game-changer.
- Up next for Newcastle: a clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Howe Overcomes Guardiola Hurdle
Eddie Howe expressed his joy and satisfaction after leading Newcastle United to a victory against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Carabao Cup. While the win improves his personal record against the Spaniard, Howe emphasized that the focus was more on team progression in the competition.
Tonight's winner! 😍🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/7B1kGdmI42
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 27, 2023
Commenting on the match dynamics, Howe shared,
“It was a very difficult game for us in the first half… But the second half was a totally different performance. I’m delighted with everyone’s commitment to the game.”
Team Strategy and Decisions
After Newcastle’s astounding 8-0 Premier League victory against Sheffield United, Howe decided to rest a significant portion of that team. In contrast, Guardiola made eight alterations to his lineup. However, the game-changing decisions were from the benches. Newcastle’s introduction of Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon post-halftime seemed to shift the match in their favor.
The Decisive Moment and Reflections
The only goal of the match was a result of a brilliant finish by Alexander Isak after an assertive run by Joelinton. Despite Manchester City’s control in the first half, they couldn’t capitalize, leading to their eventual defeat.
INTO THE NEXT ROUND! 🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/8wHNS6JeWS
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 27, 2023
Guardiola, when questioned about City’s potential to win a quadruple this season following their treble from the last, responded,
“You think the target was to win the quadruple? Honestly, it’s not… Our expectations are high, but not high enough to not be satisfied with that.”
He also defended his decision of not introducing star striker Erling Haaland late in the game.
Looking Ahead
With this win under their belt, Newcastle now gears up to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup’s fourth round. As Howe reflected, victories against top-tier teams boost confidence and belief, setting the stage for future encounters.
🚨 Carabao Cup official draw:
➡️ Mansfield vs Port Vale
➡️ Ipswich vs Fulham
➡️ Manchester United vs Newcastle
➡️ Bournemouth vs Liverpool
➡️ Chelsea vs Blackburn
➡️ West Ham vs Arsenal
➡️ Everton vs Burnley
➡️ Exeter vs Middlesbrough
ManUtd vs Newcastle 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/WsH44RdjLg
— Anderson Wegbom (@CFCAndy_) September 28, 2023