Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe applauds the fans with Graeme Jones (left)(Image: SmartFrame/News Images)
Eddie Howe has warned Manchester City that the Carabao Cup semi-final is not dead and that the next goal could determine the winner of the last four clash.
Although Howe conceded that his team do have a mountain to climb, he insists he won't give up the ghost with his team heading to the Etihad Stadium for the second leg next month. An injury time goal from Rayan Cherki sealed the win on the night for Man City and Howe admitted that the two-goal cushion gives the game a different feel.
Howe, [speaking after the 2-0 defeat to Man City](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/uk-sport-news/newcastle-united-player-ratings-unshakable-33224385), said: "We are still alive. We are still in there fighting.
"It is very difficult to turn it around. But it is still possible and football can conjure up some magical moments.
"Last year, we were on the other side of this scoreline, we went to Arsenal and won 2-0. But we felt that game was still very much alive and it was all about the next goal in the tie.
"And I think that is going to be the case in this one. I think if we get the next goal, we are still very much in it.
"I think we saw enough tonight to see that we can be competitive. We weren't at our very best physically.
"We still caused them problems so we are going to have to go with that mentality again."
After failing to take early chances from Yoane Wissa and Bruno Guimaraes, Newcastle then failed to click in the final third with Nick Woltemade also squandering opportunities.
Howe said: "We have (given ourselves a mountain to climb). It looks a tough defeat on us.
"The lads really have everything today, and I thought we had the chances to score. There were chances and moments.
"I'm really disappointed to lose 2-0. At 1-0 there is a really different feel about it and we need to be a bit better."
Looking back on that early miss from Wissa, Howe said: "Looking back with hindsight, you'd say that's potentially a big turning point. We wanted to get the crowd fully into the match. Manchester City want to do the opposite by retaining the ball and calm the crowd down, also it's always that dynamic by the two teams.
"Yoane's a top player. He's still finding his very best level after a long time injured. Maybe in a couple more weeks that might've gone in.
"All I can look at is the effort levels of the players, and I think considering Saturday's efforts that we gave against Bournemouth, that was a great effort from the guys against the worst side that could expose that fatigue."