Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2 – Tuesday January 13, 2026 8:00 PM
Direct fan/writer response from some of our regular contributors to The Mag.
Nat Seaton:
‘How did we lose this match by two goals?
We played well, didn’t finish well and they took their chances.
Saturday certainly took its toll on some of our players towards the end of the game, made worse by their new substitutions.
We have to be realistic about that great late second goal, which will most likely put the tie out of our reach, but I’m hoping for a remarkable turnaround…
Back to the league on Sunday with a crucial game against Wolves and hopefully keep up our good form (even if we play away!).’
Billy Miller:
‘Of course we are victims of the first rule change which means that a player can represent two clubs in the same season of the Carabao Cup.
I thought we had good value for most of the game, but to lose in this competition for the first time since 2023 is devastating.
We looked most likely to score late but were ragged in the last few minutes and I think this is probably our Carabao race for the season.
A positive point was again Haaland’s containment. If he played against us every week he wouldn’t break any records.
My big hope is that this game hasn’t affected us too much mentally or physically as we head into a potentially season-defining series of games.”
GTone:
‘Very disappointing result. Pressure on post and crossbar, but no goals.
Feel sorry for the boys, but the two CFs need to take their chances, otherwise this is how games against teams like Man City will go.
It’s actually a good thing we won on Saturday.
A quality goalscorer and it’s a different story.
What is Mickey Quinn doing these days? He would have some tonight. Shame.
Hall excellent again. He’s a player.’
Matt Busby said…:
‘Is our love affair with the League Cup over?
After 97 minutes I wouldn’t have said that, but a woeful kick from Pope, provoking pressure just as we needed to get the ball onto the pitch, forced us to concede again, and our hopes of a return to Wembley to defend the trophy we won last March were cruelly extinguished.
Playing at home in the first leg is a big disadvantage in my opinion and as soon as the draw was made I was in a slump.
We can debate all night about Man City cheating their way to the top of the English game and if that sounds like sour grapes, it is. But they are a top team and although we competed to a certain extent, if we are honest, we didn’t deserve to win that game.
Small margins. Trafford scores a world champion for Bruno’s shot against the post, Ramsey makes a brilliant challenge but has to leave the pitch temporarily and seconds later, someone who would have ended up in the cup earlier by turning the ball into the United net.
Woltemade should have done better if the shot fell at 0-1 and that could have given us something to hold on to, but the chance begged.
It was like a mortuary leaving the ground and my mood darkened as I walked back over the High Level Bridge.”
David Punton:
“Our hopes of retaining the League Cup hang by a thread on a night when we rue missed chances before being punished by a stronger team.
It’s only half time, but next month we have a mountain to the club at the Etihad.
The killing blow came with the final kick – another late goal drama. Cherki sealed it deep into stoppage time.
Hopefully Wissa will take more risks when he becomes sharp.
The squad depth is such that we are stretched thin and fighting on multiple fronts – something had to be done.
While this isn’t over yet, it’s a big ask. Winning a cup is difficult. Holding it is even harder.
One factor that caused concern tonight was Semenyo and when the cup rule was lifted he found the back of the net. He will be a player for them. An absolute powerhouse.’
Simon Ritter:
‘We should have scored in the opening exchange.
For the third game in a row, Wissa failed to take advantage of a clear early opportunity.
Hall was fantastic, with Manchester City repeatedly resorting to fouls to stop him. O’Reilly was lucky to escape punishment for a free elbow on Guimaraes as our captain tried to break from a quickly taken free kick. The VAR was not doing its job at that moment.
Murphy was our best attacking option and his withdrawal just before the break was a big blow.
Predictably, a player who would have finished in the cup before this season scored the first goal just seconds after Guimaraes hit the post and Wissa forced a fantastic Trafford save.
The VAR did do its job to rule out a second attack from Semenyo.
We had a few more half-chances, but Cherki’s goal in the last minute of stoppage time made our task in the second leg almost impossible.
Hall was exceptional on offense and defense. All his teammates gave 100%. Unfortunately, some weren’t good enough.’
Tony Mallabar:
‘Disappointed, but if we don’t take our chances, that’s what will happen.
The intensity of our previous two semi-finals against Southampton and Arsenal was unfortunately missing.
Anyway, I’ll be at the Etihad singing Eddie Howe’s black and white army.’
Mark Jankowski:
‘The defeat in the first leg of the semi-final puts us squarely against it.
Overall, Newcastle were at least worthy of a draw, but missed too many good chances and ultimately paid the price.
We were granted a brief reprieve when Man City’s second goal was disallowed for offside.
Unfortunately we still couldn’t find an equalizer and were punished late.
A 2-0 deficit seems like a long way back in the second leg, but you never know.’
Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2 – Tuesday January 13, 2026 8:00 PM
Match statistics
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Man’s City:
Semenyo 58, Cherki 90+8
Possess was Newcastle 43% Manchester City 57%
Total shots were Newcastle 10 Man City 11
Shots on target were Newcastle 3 Man City 4
Corners were Newcastle 5 Man City 6
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 23 Man City 27
Newcastle team vs Man City:
Mother, Myley, Thiw, Botman, Halil, Ramsey, 69), Joelton, Bruno (Trippier 87), Jacob Murphy (Crolled 47), Walkon 69), Wissa (Whossa (Whossa (Whossa (Whossa 69))
subtitles:
Ramsdale, Willock, Alex Murphy, Neave
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