After defeating Manchester City to advance to this season’s fourth round of the Carabao Cup, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe stated that his team was motivated to “go one better” than their runners-up finish from the previous season.

A mostly underperforming Newcastle team beat a significantly altered City team after the break thanks to a goal from Alexander Isak.

Newcastle, who lost to Manchester United in the championship game a year ago, made 10 changes from the team that defeated Sheffield United 8-0 on Sunday. The visitors dominated the first half with hardly a Newcastle kick.

However, the Magpies were changed after the break when Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon were added, and Isak scored after excellent work from Joelinton.

The run from the previous year was on our minds before the game, Howe said Sky Sports. Although the final may have had an impact on our league standings, it served as an inspiration for us and boosted our season. We take great pride in the past.

“There is still a long way to go, but we want to attempt to go even further if we can. We’re still engaged in combat there.

Howe’s team was fortunate to still be tied after 45 minutes despite being disciplined yet passive in the face of City’s possession dominance, with Julian Alvarez wasting two good opportunities.

Pep Guardiola made seven substitutions of his own, giving teenage midfielder Oscar Bobb his first start, but the customary patient probing was still present.

But the second half performance of the home team, which was full of vigor and effort and primarily played in the face of a City side that could not respond, helped the home team earn their triumph.

It was only Pep Guardiola’s team’s second 90-minute defeat in their previous 38 games across all competitions.

After three straight losses, Newcastle is now unbeaten in four games, and as a reward for their victory on Wednesday, they will get a chance to exact revenge on the team that defeated them in the 2017 final.

The one drawback for Newcastle was Isak leaving the game with an injury on the hour, which came after Burnley’s league visit on Saturday and before Wednesday’s Champions League match against Paris St-Germain.

Man United will play Newcastle in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
Wednesday’s Carabao Cup games will include live text commentary, including Newcastle vs. Man City.
The styles of these two teams and the reasons why they are both currently so dominant in the English game were clear in an enjoyable encounter of two halves at St James’ Park, despite all the changes.

City tried to control the game and gradually wear down their opponent, which they did in the first 45 minutes without making a significant breakthrough.

Kalvin Phillips saw a lot of the ball and skillfully recycled it inside the Newcastle half, while Jack Grealish gave the home defense something to watch out for as he buzzed around and produced some wonderful touches.

If Alvarez had converted either of his two chances, with the first being the better of the two but being stopped by a kick from Nick Pope, City might have been in line for their own fourth-round matchup.

Newcastle, though, is a well-drilled team when not in control and they maintained their composure until the half before exploding in a fantastic second half.

The impetus was the substitution of Gordon and Guimaraes with full debutants Lewis Hall and 17-year-old Lewis Miley, but the entire Magpies side was strengthened.

The apathy was gone, and in its place was an arrowhead of intensity and desire that struck at the defense of City.

“It was a game of two halves,” Howe remarked. “City performed well, and [the] first was difficult. Although we didn’t have the ball, we still played strong defense.

We excelled in most areas, both offensively and defensively, in the second half. We made a good offensive and ultimately won probably deservedly.

“At halftime, there were tactical adjustments, but belief was the most important thing. This is not a criticism of the men we let go, but the men we brought in really made a difference. We were a much superior squad when we had the ball.

Isak has excelled in his second season in England, and after a driving, strong run and low ball from Joelinton, he was there once more to slot in at the back post.

After that, they kept up the pressure while also playing excellent game management to keep City at bay even after Phil Foden, Matheus Nunes, and Jeremy Doku were introduced.

Rico Lewis’ attempt that he dragged past the post was the closest the visitors came to forcing a penalty shootout.