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Man Utd 2-0 Newcastle United: 'EFL Cup final loss is the start of something great for Magpies'

By Simon StoneBBC Sport at Wembley

Last updated on .From the section Newcastlecomments942

Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe's Newcastle are four points off a Champions League place with 15 matches to go

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admits there are no guarantees - but they will use the pain of their EFL Cup defeat as motivation to bring success to St James' Park.

Despite the backing of a fervent support, who made the most of their first Wembley visit since the 1999 FA Cup final, the outcome was the same with a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.

It left Newcastle still without a major trophy since 1969 and their last domestic cup success, the FA Cup, back in 1955.

Howe did not try to hide the crushing disappointment of a loss in which he accepted his side didn't 'get the big moments right'. But he found it easy to see reasons for optimism.

"It hurts immensely," added Howe. "It feels like you have failed. A negative sea of emotions hit you but, with defeat, sometimes you can take positives.

"Nothing is guaranteed. I hope we are a different Newcastle, but the competition is very high so we have to improve. We can't stand still and think we are something. We have to prove we are - and we have to go again."

The bare statistics show Newcastle are a far better side than 12 months ago.

After 23 games of last season, they were four points clear of the relegation zone. Even after Tottenham's victory against Chelsea, now they are only four points off a Champions League place with 15 matches remaining - and they have two games in hand on Antonio Conte's side.

And significant voices among those who want Newcastle to succeed back up that view.

"This is the beginning of something for Newcastle," said popular former Magpies winger David Ginola. "It is the start of building something great, building history."

Chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan was present at Wembley and will doubtless have his own thoughts on the progress made since the Saudi-backed takeover changed the outlook on Tyneside.

Howe said the brief exchange the pair had after the final whistle was positive but he will know, like any manager, his own performance will be judged on results.

To that end, the rest of Newcastle's season will be fascinating.

They have a trip to champions Manchester City next weekend, 'probably the most difficult game in the league', according to Howe. Among their remaining opponents too are third-placed Manchester United and leaders Arsenal.

A potentially pivotal encounter with Tottenham is scheduled for 23 April, although that date clashes with FA Cup semi-final weekend.

As Tottenham are still involved, it raises the potential for the game being moved to an even later point in the campaign, when its importance could be even more significant.

It should be a challenge Newcastle will relish. Yet Howe accepts the battle ahead is made more difficult by the reality that those teams the Magpies are trying to usurp have spent years dealing with similar challenges.

"This season was an unknown for us," he added. "Would we step up and continue our momentum or would it be another season of struggle?

"The players have done incredibly well to elevate us to an incredible position but we are not the finished article. We are coming at this from a totally different place and it only gets harder because the competition will improve."

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942 comments

  • Comment posted by the united way, at 22:14 26 Feb 2023

    Howe is doing a great job, in reality most of that team will be replaced as their hopes become expectations, so to be where they are now is huge credit to him.

    • Reply posted by D1691767665321, at 00:11 27 Feb 2023

      D1691767665321 replied:
      'Great' has to be earned, 'Wonderful' is even better.

      Nothing can compare 😉☝

      💗

  • Comment posted by SHEARERS BAR, at 22:05 26 Feb 2023

    Where we were a year ago, just shows how far we have come in a year. Yes we have spent money, but no one should take away the turnaround Eddie has given us. Joe Linton and Miggy Almiron done nothing under Bruce, Eddie has got the best out of both of them. I never ever thought we would be this high in the league, so I am more than happy with the way our season is going.

    • Reply posted by Hot Shot Hamish, at 22:10 26 Feb 2023

      Hot Shot Hamish replied:
      You keep saying that to yourself. You know what you club has become. Hope your enjoying yourself.

  • Comment posted by Faustino, at 22:01 26 Feb 2023

    You are doing a great job, Eddie, keep it up. (From a supporter first at St James's in 1954.)

  • Comment posted by D1690188813470, at 23:05 26 Feb 2023

    Newcastle are having a great season but the facts are they've drawn more games than they've won. They've been flattered slightly by Liverpool and Chelsea having dreadful seasons and Spurs being Spurs.

    • Reply posted by cb, at 08:49 27 Feb 2023

      cb replied:
      Newcastle, gr8 to see, but realistcally this teams run its course, top 6 would be a good result and build from there! Are they going to have issues getting the very best going to Newcastle?

  • Comment posted by VeniVidiVici, at 21:41 26 Feb 2023

    Massive improvement in just over 12 months. Goals are the biggest problem now and Wilson looks like he couldn't buy one.

    • Reply posted by Graham, at 23:20 26 Feb 2023

      Graham replied:
      Or con the Referee into giving him a penalty.

  • Comment posted by Mart72, at 22:30 26 Feb 2023

    Oxford United still more successful than Newcastle in the past 50 years.

    • Reply posted by geordie with an attitude, at 22:34 26 Feb 2023

      geordie with an attitude replied:
      And still the Newcastle supporters sell out St James’ every week and always support the club away. Best supporters in England. Although Leeds are excellent too.

  • Comment posted by Terry, at 21:55 26 Feb 2023

    Ahead of target and on upward curve. Cant get to elite club level in 12 months. Watching Madrid wee all over Liverpool shows you the level required to compete

  • Comment posted by gudwin, at 21:55 26 Feb 2023

    Someone needs to tell Eddy that to win games you need to score goals, and to do that you need to shoot and get people in the box. Even at 2-0 Newcastle created few chances and committed few players to getting in the box.

    • Reply posted by Mason2016, at 23:20 26 Feb 2023

      Mason2016 replied:
      Correct. They've only scored 6 goals in the prem since the World Cup finished. Today showed why.

  • Comment posted by JBT , at 21:57 26 Feb 2023

    I don't know what happened to ASM. Since he came back from that injury he hasn't been the same. Shadow of his former self. Eddie needs to get him back to what he used to be.

    • Reply posted by Tm51, at 00:27 27 Feb 2023

      Tm51 replied:
      ASM needs to move to likes of Arsenal or Spurs too good for Mags. City should have taken him... He's miles better than Grealish

  • Comment posted by Dyno Soarus III, at 22:54 26 Feb 2023

    Only caught the second half and thought Newcastle were half decent. Utd having scored two, just sat back and looked for counter attacks.

    • Reply posted by SHEARERS BAR, at 22:58 26 Feb 2023

      SHEARERS BAR replied:
      They never threatened us once, till they scored off a set piece, then the second goal was pure luck. They did nothing at all other than try to get us on the counter, but to hear them on they outclassed us all game you couldn’t make it up.

  • Comment posted by Joseph Swan Lightbulb FC, at 21:51 26 Feb 2023

    If you cannot score - you can only slide down the table. All Newcastle’s challengers for fourth place have proven goal scorers.
    Wilson and Isak are both poor

    • Reply posted by SHEARERS BAR, at 22:01 26 Feb 2023

      SHEARERS BAR replied:
      Good point Joseph, a lot of our dropped points this season is because we cannot finish.

  • Comment posted by Geordie Superhero-Whey-Aye-Man, at 06:34 27 Feb 2023

    'EFL Cup final loss is the start of something great for Magpies' - um, ask Nimes whether their lose to Real Madrid was the start of something great for them.
    It might be a chastening, learning experience, but there's nothing guaranteed in life and thus it might be the only Final NUFC are in for the next 10 yrs. Just ask Alan Shearer about 1999.

    • Reply posted by Geordie Superhero-Whey-Aye-Man, at 06:38 27 Feb 2023

      Geordie Superhero-Whey-Aye-Man replied:
      And my apologies, I realise I meant Reims not Nimes.

      But on the same theme: St Etienne slightly more recently, Parma, even Leeds (although you'd imagine the finances are somewhat more solid than Leeds).

  • Comment posted by giggy moon, at 08:39 27 Feb 2023

    If Eddie wants to attract star players he should tell their wives that they could live in Middlesbrough. It has all that Milan, Paris and London has to offer and its only thirty miles down the road.

    • Reply posted by CB, at 10:22 27 Feb 2023

      CB replied:
      With fine cuisine to rival anywhere on earth. They say on his 8th day, God created the Parmo.

      And failing all of that, the finest shellfish found anywhere on earth. All rotting, high up the beach.

  • Comment posted by Tony, at 22:16 26 Feb 2023

    Just need a genuine forward capable of regular goals

    • Reply posted by U21547460, at 23:23 26 Feb 2023

      U21547460 replied:
      And then what?

  • Comment posted by lawman, at 21:44 26 Feb 2023

    They are certainly a different Newcastle United. Certainly going in the right trajectory under Eddie Howe. He's getting better with age and money.
    A possible lethal combination.

    • Reply posted by Graham, at 21:58 26 Feb 2023

      Graham replied:
      Delirious.

  • Comment posted by Haway The Lads, at 11:36 27 Feb 2023

    Shearer's face on tv at 6.30pm.Priceless!!!

    • Reply posted by kailennon, at 11:42 27 Feb 2023

      kailennon replied:
      Nufc at Wembley safc at Coventry that's priceless

  • Comment posted by d0, at 00:56 27 Feb 2023

    A top half finish and a cup final appearance would be massive improvement

  • Comment posted by Alex, at 02:24 27 Feb 2023

    MU had to keep their box very crowded in the second half - definitely a compliment to Newcastle whose performance was quite encouraging at times. Isak was active with initiative needing more regular longer play. Saint-Maximin was over-excited that did not help him with accurate passing. The schedule ahead couldn't be tougher, but they should not be discouraged.

    • Reply posted by fillyerboots, at 09:14 27 Feb 2023

      fillyerboots replied:
      Well said, nothing beats a bit of positivity around here.

  • Comment posted by SHEARMINATOR, at 06:11 27 Feb 2023

    Last few weeks Newcastle have lost that flow....down that league you go

  • Comment posted by ymaohyd, at 10:24 27 Feb 2023

    That was massive yesterday and the Newcastle fans know it. A real opportunity to get that 68 year monkey off their back. Who knows when they’ll have that opportunity again, if ever.

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