Newcastle United players waited impatiently in the tunnel at the Etihad, eager for kick-off, but Manchester City were slow to emerge. When the game started, City quickly took control, racing into a 3-0 lead in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, leaving Newcastle struggling.
On a day when CEO David Hopkinson reiterated his belief that Newcastle will compete for major trophies by 2030, the visitors looked far from that goal in the first half. Head coach Eddie Howe was frustrated and made three changes at half-time, admitting afterward that he was “really annoyed.”
Newcastle managed a small fightback after the break, with substitute Anthony Elanga scoring to make it 3-1 on the day, but they ultimately bowed out with a 5-1 aggregate defeat. Despite the loss, 5,400 travelling fans chanted “Eddie Howe’s black and white army” in tribute to the coach who ended the club’s 70-year wait for a major trophy in this competition.
This season has been a tough one for Newcastle, and the challenges don’t appear to be over anytime soon.
