The Magpies were blown away by an barnstorming Man City opening that left tensions frayed
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe at the Etihad(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
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Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe admits he was left "really annoyed" with the way his side allowed their Carabao Cup defence slip away so easily at the Etihad Stadium.
As Newcastle went 3-0 behind with 32 minutes on the clock, tensions were visible in the technical area as Howe appeared to order coach Graeme Jones to fix something as the scoreline threatened to get out of hand in the North-West.
United were well and truly on the ropes as the goals flew, and big chances from Anthony Gordon and Joe Willock were also missed.
It was a horror night for Howe and his players and his opposite number Pep Guardiola knew it as he orchestrated the lightning from the opposite dugout. As City missed a chance at 2-0, Guardiola waved his hands up and down and asked the home crowd for more noise.
True, the second half was better but by that time the tie was dead and at 5-0, City took their foot off the gas meaning the second half was essentially a non-contest.
Howe held a seven-minute Press conference afterwards and said: "Really annoyed with the first-half display because we pride ourselves on being really organised and tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition gives us.
"But that first half, I just don't think we were good enough. Our duels were off. That gave us huge problems. We didn’t defend well at all, I think. So, yeah, the first half was really disappointing."
Newcastle's silent trip home
The journey back to Tyneside was understood to be a quiet one as Newcastle players slipped away from the Etihad Stadium after a bruising defeat.
It wasn't that the performance was completely bad; the Magpies were better in the second half. It was just the way Newcastle capitulated in front of a Man City crowd who were lukewarm and almost expectant that their side would reach another Wembley final.
The post-game mixed zone was, like Liverpool a few days earlier, a tough shift for the travelling Tyneside media journalists who left empty-handed with no quotes from players.
Sandro Tonali's mood
The Italian did not look like a player whose head had been turned in the last few days. Although Newcastle chiefs are keeping a close eye on his mood and trying to support the player.
Newcastle are bullish about the Arsenal rumours and know that it will take an astronomical fee for Tonali to be sold. The midfielder himself knows that too.
When the dust settles Newcastle will stage further talks with Tonali about his future. But for now he will be asked to repeat his performances at St James' Park from last season agaisnt Brentford.
Tonali grabbed two in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals in a 3-1 win last term and then scored a dramatic winner from an acute angle against the Bees in a 2-1 victory in the Premier League.
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