Eddie Howe promises to be respectful in Champions League play-off second leg amid calls to play List B players
It would take a catastrophic series of errors for Newcastle United to blow this 6-1 lead in the Champions League play-off with the St James' Park leg to be played next week.
You can never say it's 'job done' until that final whistle blows, but we've got to be at last 90% there with that cushion.
Newcastle strolled into a 5-0 first-half lead in Baku last night as the Qarabag defence left their heads in the dressing room. If it wasn't for their goalkeeper, who, despite leaking six goals, had one hell of a game, it could have been a cricket score before half-time.
However, Qarabag regrouped during the break and were a much stronger team in the second half. Newcastle couldn't get through their defence as easily, and they managed to finally create chances, the first of which resulted in a goal as the ball travelled through Nick Pope's crisp packet hand.
Eddie Howe wants to show respect to Qarabag, even with such a big advantage
With such a big advantage, Eddie Howe was asked if he'd call upon the B List players next week, especially after handing Sean Neave his Newcastle United debut last night, but it's not something Howe wanted to commit to at the time.
"We will need to take a break and think before we get too far ahead. My next thought is Man City.
"We fully respect Qarabag - I fully respect them, I have watched them loads, they have some very good players, we will take the second leg very seriously. We know the tie's not over, but we've put ourselves in a great position. I just think we've got to be professional in every moment.
"We know how football can change. We respect every opponent, and we have to be very good in the next game."
We expect Eddie Howe will start with a stronger side and take big players off as the game goes on
It would be nice to see some of the youngster given their chance to shine, but it would probably be a mistake to overload the team with them.
For us, it would make sense to start with a strong-ish side, and if they can grab a goal or two, then start introducing the likes of Neave, Sam Alabi and Leo Shahar, who have sat on the bench a few times this season.
A couple of goals at St James' Park will definitely kill off the tie, Qarabag's heads will drop, and we can do what we want after that.
