Newcastle United 1-0 Manchester City: 2023/24 Carabao Cup Round Three match report

Newcastle United dumped Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening in the quintessential game of two halves.

Pegged back for the vast majority of the first 45 minutes due to the sheer technical superiority of Pep Guardiola's heavily rotated side, the Magpies were thankful to Nick Pope and a wayward finish from Julián Álvarez as they approached the interval at 0-0.

Eddie Howe made 10 changes to the team that won 8-0 at Sheffield United at the weekend but his charges struggled to cope with the intensity of the visitors' approach. Still, his side arguably fashioned the best chance of the opening period in the 41st minute.

Joelinton pounced on a loose pass from Joško Gvardiol to beat Mateo Kovačić to the ball, then prodded it towards Alexander Isak in the centre circle. The Swedish striker took the pass on the half-turn and sent Jacob Murphy sprinting through down the right.

The winger took a couple of touches as he broke into the box, before firing a low drive from 12 yards out that visiting stopped Stefan Ortega did very well to get a foot to. The better option was an early square ball to Matt Targett, who was unmarked at the far post, though.

Still, the chance seemed to give the Magpies belief heading into half-time and they were a totally different proposition after the break. Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon came on for the young duo of Lewis Miley and Lewis Hall and were instrumental in the turnaround, with the Brazilian outstanding.

The balance of the game swung instantaneously with the home side kicking towards their favoured Gallowgate End and swarming the Citizens with their press. The golden goal came in the 53rd minute, in a move started by the imperious Jamaal Lascelles.

The centre-back, making his first competitive start since March, picked out Murphy in the visiting half with a lovely ball between the lines. The winger took the pass on the half-turn and drove infield, deceiving Kovačić and finding Joelinton 30 yards from goal.

The big Brazilian resisted the urge to shoot, instead dribbling into the box and holding off challenges from three opponents before squaring from the right through bodies to an unmarked Isak at the back post. The number 14 made no mistake, controlling the ball with his left foot and lifting it into the net from just three yards.

Howe's men didn't soften their approach from there but did lose momentum when Isak was forced off with a knock on the hour mark. Murphy took up an unfamiliar striking role due to the lack of Callum Wilson on the bench and chances were hard to come by thereafter.

City didn't offer much at the other end, though. The only hairy moment for Pope and his resolute backline came in the 90th minute when Rico Lewis fired wide from the edge of the box under pressure from Joelinton and Gordon.

There was palpable relief from the home crowd when the final whistle blew as Howe and his players chalked yet up another memorable victory. The reward? A trip to Old Trafford in Round Four, which offers us the chance to knock the other Manchester club out and gain a measure of revenge for last season's Wembley heartache.

Are there any highlights of the game?

Sky have all of the key moments from the game on their YouTube channel in a neat two-minute package, here it is:

What were the player ratings?

We're just glad we don't have to do these at half-time, as they would look very different!

Tino Livramento led the way for the Magpies on his full competitive debut, deputising majestically for Kieran Trippier and dealing with Jack Grealish (and later Jeremy Doku) throughout to scoop Sky's "Man of the Match" award.

A special mention from us for Lascelles, Paul Dummett—making a first start for 13 months—and Targett, too, though, who also protected Pope's goal with everything they had under severe pressure at times.

Pope didn't have much to do but struggled badly with his kicking once again, which invited unnecessary pressure in the first half in particular.

Ahead of the back five, Sandro Tonali had a nightmare opening period but improved when moved out to the right of the central trio after the break. Lewis Miley was largely bypassed on his full debut, but Joelinton looked like he'd never been away and was crucial to the win.

Lewis Hall did alright despite being asked to play in three positions (left-wing, left central midfield, and left-back) in his 45 minutes of action, while Murphy and Isak were always a threat on the break and were at the heart of most of our best moves.

Guimarães put in his best half for a long while, receiving special praise from Guardiola on the pitch immediately after the final whistle, while Gordon also made a difference off the bench with his energy and threat.

Fabian Schär and Elliot Anderson only appeared late on, though Miguel Almirón still looked way off his best to us but was as full of running as usual.

Newcastle United (4-3-3): Pope 6; Livramento 9, Lascelles 8, Dummett 8 (Schär 5), Targett 8; L. Miley 5 (Guimarães 9), Tonali 5 (Anderson 5), Joelinton 8; Murphy 7, Isak 7 (Almirón 5), Hall 6 (Gordon 7)

What was Eddie Howe's reaction?

Dan King of NUFC TV grabbed the head coach after the final whistle to find out how he orchestrated such a turnaround after half-time:

"We made two substitutes, two top-quality players came onto the pitch and our general performance just improved off the back of that. Yes, there were a few things that we tweaked, as we wanted to improve on that first-half display but although the first-half wasn't perfect, we didn't concede, we stayed in the game, and that gave us the chance to then fight back in the second half.

Full credit to everyone involved in the whole team from a defensive viewpoint, because it was good in both halves. The back four was slightly new and hasn't played together before but the work we do behind the scenes gives them the best chance to perform well when they are put together. Full credit to them all, Tino (Livramento) on his home debut was very good. Jamaal (Lascelles) and Paul (Dummett) haven't been seen for quite some time, but I thought they were both excellent, and Matt Targett and Lewis Hall, whoever was at left-back—because it changed—I thought did a really good job.

We always think that if we can involve the crowd they're an extra man for us, they're such a powerful force. In that first half, we didn't do enough to get them with us and give them enough to support us with, but the second half was totally different. They saw more endeavour, they saw more desire to get closer to Manchester City, they saw attacking interplay and some really good combinations, so it was a totally different display in that second period and the crowd responded."

What did Paul Dummett and Joelinton have to say?

Dummett was delighted after making his first start in over a year and also spoke to King for NUFC TV:

"It's been a long time for me to play for Newcastle so to get a start, I was delighted, and the result was even better in a tough game against the Premier League champions and European champions.

We could've been better on the ball in the first half, we all know that, but against the Premier League champions, you're always going to have spells without the ball. You have to stay together as a team in the way you slide, shuffle, and close the gaps and not give away any chances. I didn't think they had any clear-cut chances in the first half even though they had most of the possession. We came out second half, started off really well, and then we got that goal. In the end, it was a brilliant performance from everyone on the pitch.

The manager made a lot of changes today but every day we work together as a back four, we alternate every day in training so we all work together and we're all doing the same patterns and the same drills. We're all on the same page and I think that showed out there on the pitch today. We kept a clean sheet and that's the most important thing for us as a back four. With the amount of changes we made, it's quite impressive we did that against the Premier League champions.

It was very difficult (to make a first start in 13 months) and right at the end, I got cramp. Competitive football against Premier League opposition is not easy, even though I played pre-season games it's not the same as a competitive fixture. It was tough out there, but I train hard every day to make sure that when a chance does come I am ready."

Joelinton then had the final word, having been excellent on his surprise return to the starting XI after injury:

"It was a big win, massive. We know the quality of City, they're a great team, one of the best in the world and we knew it would be a difficult game tonight. But we had the crowd behind us, the support, and I think we did well in the second half and I'm very happy to come back and for us to win.

I think we did better with the ball (in the second half). In the first half, we just defended and we were not too good with the ball. In the second half, we were much better and we took our chance, but it's always a difficult game against City.

I'm so pleased to be back with the team and to help the team. For me, it was a long week out trying to recover to come back as quickly as possible. I did everything I could to get back with the team and I'm very happy with the effort I put in to come back and help the team win again today.

I feel good, I put so much work in last week to come back, and I'm just happy I had the chance to start the game today. I knew I had to respond and come back strong to help the team.

The start of the season was very hard, we started well but then for two or three games we didn't play our best, but the team has responded after the break and came back strong with a massive win at the weekend. We're in a good moment of the season and I hope we can continue to grow and improve."

What's next for NUFC?

It's our first Saturday 3 p.m. kick-off of the season as Vincent Kompany's Burnley make the trip to St. James'. Let's hope for another win and a fifth consecutive clean sheet!