Newcastle United were left frustrated on the night as they fell to a 2–0 defeat against Manchester City in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at St James’ Park, with Eddie Howe making it clear that one particular rule left a bitter taste.
While City’s quality eventually told, the Newcastle boss felt his side were punished unfairly at a crucial moment that changed the flow of the game.
Manchester City took the lead through Antoine Semenyo, who continued his dream start at the club after arriving from Bournemouth just days earlier.
The winger, signed for a hefty fee, showed his confidence by finding the net once again, giving Pep Guardiola’s side control of the tie. Rayan Cherki later added a second goal deep into stoppage time, leaving Newcastle with a huge task when the two teams meet again in the second leg in early February.
Much of the post-match discussion focused on Semenyo’s involvement, especially given that in previous seasons he would not have been allowed to play. Under old rules, players who had already featured for another club in the competition were cup-tied.
That rule famously hurt Newcastle in the 2023 final when they were unable to call upon key players who had played earlier rounds for different teams. However, the regulations were changed ahead of the current season, allowing players to represent more than one club in the competition.
While some fans questioned the fairness of that amendment, Howe made it clear that this was not the issue that bothered him most.
Instead, the Newcastle manager pointed to the moment leading up to City’s opening goal, when his side were temporarily reduced to ten men. Jacob Ramsey had been forced off the pitch after receiving treatment for a blow to the head, leaving Newcastle short-handed at a critical point. It was during that brief spell that Semenyo struck, and Howe could not hide his confusion over how the rules handled such situations.
He explained that while rules are rules and cannot be ignored, it felt wrong that his team were punished for a player suffering a head injury. From his point of view, player safety should come first, and it made little sense that a side could be left exposed simply because a player needed treatment after being struck in the head. Howe felt that moment shifted the mood inside the stadium and handed City an advantage they did not need.
Despite the scoreline, Newcastle were far from outplayed for long spells of the match. Howe highlighted several moments where his team came close to taking the lead or at least getting themselves back into the contest.
Jacob Murphy caused real problems down the right flank, stretching City’s defence and creating uncertainty. There were also key moments where Newcastle came within inches of scoring, including a fine save from James Trafford and a strike that clipped the post.
Those fine margins, Howe felt, summed up the game. Football can turn in an instant, and small moments often decide big matches. Newcastle had opportunities to change the story, but they were unable to take them.
Even so, the manager believed the quality of their delivery into the box deserved more reward, and he took encouragement from the way his side competed against one of the strongest teams in the country.
Now, attention turns to the second leg, where Newcastle will need something special to overturn the deficit. The challenge is huge, but Howe’s reaction suggested he has not given up hope.
While the frustration over certain rules remains, his focus will be on making sure his players recover, regroup, and believe that the tie is not over yet. In cup football, momentum can swing quickly, and Newcastle will be hoping that next time, those fine margins fall in their favour.
