Newcastle 1-3 Man City: FA Cup gives Magpies tough reminder of gap to top

Yet it might have been so totally different.

Newcastle could have been feeling the results of taking part in with 10 males for thus lengthy in a spirited midweek win against Manchester United.

But Newcastle began this fifth-round tie like a aspect who acknowledged that the FA Cup was not solely their greatest probability of profitable silverware this season.

It was additionally their most evident route again into Europe at a time when Howe’s staff lie in twelfth place within the Premier League.

Newcastle shortly obtained the gang into the sport with their power and intent.

Manchester City Goalkeeper James Trafford and defender Matheus Nunes uncharacteristically booted the ball out of play because the hosts pressed excessive.

Perhaps, most crucially, Newcastle grabbed the opening objective as Harvey Barnes fired his aspect in entrance with a effective curling effort.

It felt like a well-recognized script for Guardiola, who had beforehand seen Barnes rating twice in a 2-1 win in opposition to his aspect at this very stadium again in November.

“The first 15, 20 minutes always happens,” he stated. “We talk about that. We couldn’t control.”

Just because the guests rallied, although, Newcastle dropped deeper and deeper, and couldn’t get out of their half.

The Magpies had been pinned again by City, who dominated possession and repeatedly performed their method via the hosts’ midfield.

“The way they play and how good they are technically, they took a stranglehold of the ball,” Howe stated.

“When we got it back, we gave it away too easily, maybe looking too vertical and not horizontal enough at times.

“As quickly as you make a technical mistake, you are not seeing the ball for lengthy durations after which your power simply drains away. That’s why they’ve been the very best staff for thus lengthy.”