By Martin Graham
Newcastle United was left standing in the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium, ready to begin, while Manchester City was nowhere to be seen.
With kickoff only minutes away, the holders of the Carabao Cup appeared eager to start, as Kieran Trippier glanced around in confusion, searching for the home side.
Pep Guardiola’s players eventually emerged, but their slow entrance had little impact on what followed. City tore into Newcastle during the opening period of the semi-final second leg, surging into a commanding 3-0 advantage that left the visitors reeling.
The timing was uncomfortable. Earlier in the day, chief executive David Hopkinson had reiterated his belief that Newcastle would be challenging for major honours by 2030. On the pitch, however, the gap between ambition and reality was stark during a punishing first half.
Eddie Howe’s frustration was clear. The head coach reacted decisively at the interval, making three substitutions after what he later admitted was an angry dressing-room exchange.
Rally without reward
Newcastle showed greater resolve after the restart and managed to reduce the deficit when Anthony Elanga found the net after coming off the bench.
Even so, elimination was already inevitable. A 5-1 aggregate defeat confirmed their exit, despite a more competitive second-half showing.
The travelling support remained firmly behind their manager. Around 5,400 fans filled the away end with chants backing Howe, mindful of his role in delivering the club’s first domestic trophy in 70 years, achieved in this same competition.
Yet the season as a whole has been demanding, and there is little indication that the pressure will ease in the coming weeks.
A season marked by change
Six months into the campaign, Newcastle are still searching for consistency. That assessment may appear harsh on the surface.
They have reached a third EFL Cup semi-final in four seasons and are well placed to move past Qarabag and into the Champions League last 16. An FA Cup run also remains possible, although a tricky fourth-round meeting with Aston Villa lies ahead.
League form, however, tells a different story. Sitting 11th in the Premier League, Howe’s team have struggled away from home, recording just two victories on their travels.
Ambitions of back-to-back Champions League qualification have faded. Only 11 points have been taken from matches against sides above them, while 16 points have slipped away from winning positions.
Howe accepted the description of transition, citing summer departures — including leading scorer Alexander Isak — and the arrival of new faces as factors behind the uneven performances. He stressed that change does not have to be negative but acknowledged the ongoing search for balance and rhythm.
New faces and unanswered questions
There have been encouraging flashes. Newcastle overwhelmed Chelsea before halftime, competed bravely for an hour against Paris St-Germain, and started brightly at Anfield.
Sustaining that level has proved elusive. A congested fixture list has limited time on the training ground, forcing the coaching staff to rely heavily on video analysis and walkthrough sessions instead.
The schedule has also taken a physical toll. Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tino Livramento, and Fabian Schar are currently unavailable, while Anthony Gordon departed with a hamstring problem on Wednesday evening.
Integration of summer recruits has been uneven. Apart from defender Malick Thiaw, several arrivals are still adapting after joining late in a chaotic transfer window conducted without a sporting director.
Despite heavy spending on attacking options, a reliable front-line formula has yet to emerge. Elanga impressed from the bench in Manchester, but Nick Woltemade was withdrawn at the interval, and Yoane Wissa missed several chances across both legs.
As Newcastle approaches a decisive stretch of the season, uncertainty remains. Howe insists they are still competing on multiple fronts but admits that only victories will restore momentum and belief.
