Eddie Howe comments on early Yoane Wissa miss against Manchester City and how things could have been so much different
Newcastle United aren't out of the Carabao Cup yet, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who truly believes that progression is likely now that they take a 2-0 deficit down to the Etihad for the second leg.
Manchester City were clinical in front of goal at St James' Park last night, and that's ultimately what made the difference.
While the visitors had the lion's share of possession, they seemed quite happy for the most part to just keep it and pass around the midfield. Other than some mazy runs from Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo on the flanks, their play through the middle was patient and that suited Newcastle.
However, when they had their chances, they took them, and that's what matters. Meanwhile, Newcastle squandered several big chances but none more so than Yoane Wissa in theopening five minutes, who fired over the bar when through on goal, a chance that you'd have to say he buries if he's fully fit and confident.
Eddie Howe rues missed early chance at St James' Park
Speaking to the media after the game, Eddie Howe spoke about that early chance and what a difference it would have made had Wissa been able to put it away.
"Yes, it does (change things) because Yoane has that early chance in the game, which probably changes the whole mood and atmosphere of the stadium in that moment.
"I thought there were several half-chances for us in that first half – I thought Jacob Murphy was a real threat on the right-hand side and we were giving them issues and problems down that side of the pitch.
"And then of course, James Trafford makes a great save from Yoane again, and then Bruno hits the post . . . that's any game of football though. The swings of the game are so delicately poised all the time."
We can speculate for days about how much an early goal would have changed things but it doesn't matter in the end
Things really would have been very different had that early chance gone in. The crowd started off electric last night and faded as the game went on, but with an early lead, they'd have carried the team through, for sure.
However, you could also say that conceding early could have lit a fire in Manchester City too, so you just don't know. We can speculate all we want, but it's the reality that matters.
Unfortunately, the reality is that we now have to go to a ground where we've not scored in five games and score three goals. It's not impossible, but it is certainly not easy.
