Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2 – Tuesday 13 January 2026 8pm
Instant fan/writer reaction from some of our regular contributors on The Mag.
Nat Seaton:
‘How did we lose this match by two goals?
We played well, didn’t finish well and they took their chances.
Saturday definitely took its toll on some of ours players towards the end of the game, made worse by their fresh subs.
We have to be realistic about that killer late second goal putting the tie most probably out of our reach but I live I hope of a remarkable turnaround…
Back to the league on Sunday with a vitally important game at Wolves and hopefully keeping our good form going (even thought we are playing away!).’
Billy Miller:
‘Of course it’s us that falls victim to the first instance of a rule change that means a player can represent two clubs in the same season of the Carabao Cup.
I thought we were decent value for most of the match but it’s devastating to lose for the first time in this competition since 2023.
We looked the most likely to score late but were ragged in the final couple of minutes and I think that’s probably our Carabao race run for this season.
One positive was the containment of Haaland once again. If he played us every week he wouldn’t be breaking any records.
My big hope is this fixture hasn’t affected us too much mentally or physically as we’re going into a potentially season defining run of games.’
GToon:
‘Very disappointing result. Hit post and bar but no goals.
Feel sorry for the lads but the two CFs need to take their chances or that’s how games go against teams like Man City.
Just as well we won on Saturday really.
A quality goal scorer and it’s a different story.
What’s Mickey Quinn doing these days? He’d have got a couple tonight. Shame.
Hall outstanding again. He is some player.’
Matt Busby said…:
‘Is our love affair with the League Cup over?
At 97 minutes I’d have said not, but a woeful kick from Pope which invited pressure at precisely the time we needed to get the ball up the field saw us concede again, our hopes of a return to Wembley to defend the trophy we won last March cruelly extinguished.
Playing at home in the first leg is a huge disadvantage in my book and as soon as the draw was made, I’ve been on a downer.
We can debate all night the fact that Man City have cheated their way to the summit of the English game and if that sounds like sour grapes, it’s meant to. But they are a top, top team and whilst we competed to a point, if we’re being honest we didn’t deserve to win that game.
Small margins though. Trafford pulls of a worldy before Bruno’s shot careers of the post, Ramsey makes a brilliant challenge but has to temporarily leave the field and seconds later, someone who would have been cup tied in days of yore by turns the ball into the United net.
Woltemade should have done better when the shot was on when it was 0-1 and that could have given us something to hang onto but the chance went begging.
It was like a morgue leaving the ground and my mood darkened as I headed back across the High Level Bridge.’
David Punton:
‘Our hopes of retaining the League Cup are hanging by a thread on a night when we rue missed chances before being punished by a stronger team.
It’s only half time but we have a mountain to club at the Etihad next month.
The killer blow came with the last kick – another late goal drama. Cherki sealing it deep into stoppage time.
Hopefully Wissa will start to take more chances when he gets sharp.
The squad depth is such that we’re stretched, fighting on multiple fronts – something had to give.
While this isn’t over, it’s a big ask. Winning a cup is tough. Retaining it is even harder.
One factor that was a worry tonight was Semenyo and with the cup tied rule lifted he duly found the back of the net. He’s going to be some player for them. An absolute powerhouse.’
Simon Ritter:
‘We should have scored in the opening exchanges.
For the third consecutive match, Wissa didn’t make the most of a clear early chance.
Hall was superb, with Manchester City repeatedly resorting to fouls to stop him. O’Reilly was fortunate to escape punishment for a clear elbow on Guimaraes when our captain was trying to break from a quickly taken free kick. VAR didn’t do its job in that moment.
Murphy was our best attacking outlet and his withdrawal just before the interval was a severe blow.
Predictably, a player who would have been cup-tied before this season scored the first goal, a few seconds after Guimaraes hit the post and Wissa forced a fabulous save from Trafford.
VAR did do its job to rule out a second Semenyo strike.
We had a few more half-chances but Cherki’s goal in the final minute of stoppage time has made our task in the second leg almost impossible.
Hall was exceptional in attack and defence. All his teammates gave 100%. Unfortunately, some were not good enough.’
Tony Mallabar:
‘Disappointed, but if we don’t take our chances, then that’s what happens.
The intensity of our previous two semi finals vs Southampton and Arsenal was sadly lacking.
But hey ho I will be at the Etihad singing Eddie Howe’s black and white army.’
Mark Jankowski:
‘Defeat in the first leg of the semi final has us right up against it.
Overall, Newcastle were worth at least a draw on the night but spurned too many good opportunities and eventually were made to pay.
A brief reprieve was handed our way when Man City’s second goal was disallowed for offside.
Unfortunately, we still couldn’t find an equaliser and were punished late on.
2-0 down looks a long way back in the second leg but you never know.’
Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2 – Tuesday 13 January 2026 8pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United :
Man City:
Semenyo 58, Cherki 90+8
Possession was Newcastle 43% Man City 57%
Total shots were Newcastle 10 Man City 11
Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Man City 4
Corners were Newcastle 5 Man City 6
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 23 Man City 27
Newcastle team v Man City:
Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Ramsey (Tonali 69), Joelinton, Bruno (Trippier 87), Jacob Murphy (Barnes 47), Gordon (Elanga 69), Wissa (Woltemade 69)
Subs:
Ramsdale, Willock, Alex Murphy, Neave