Newcastle’s hopes of retaining the Carabao Cup were over almost as soon as the second leg kicked off at the Etihad Stadium.
With a 2-0 lead from the first leg at St James’ Park, Eddie Howe lined up a 5-3-2 formation designed to absorb pressure and hit Manchester City on the counter.
It didn’t work. By the 32nd minute, City had scored three lightning-fast goals, and the tie was effectively done.
Ormar Marmoush’s opener in the seventh minute set the tone, and although Anthony Elanga pulled one back in the second half, Newcastle never looked like threatening a comeback.
Howe admitted afterwards, “The first goal was going to be crucial.
I’m really annoyed with the first-half display.
We pride ourselves on being really organised, but individually we were off. It was not good enough.”
Woltemade Struggles as the No.9
Nick Woltemade’s performance was under the microscope early on.
Twenty minutes in, coach Graeme Jones was shouting instructions for him to play higher up the pitch.
Moments earlier, Joe Willock had space to exploit behind City’s high defensive line, but Woltemade preferred short passes in front of the defenders.
It highlighted Newcastle’s ongoing problem at centre-forward: Woltemade is simply not the type of player to stretch defences with pace.
He was substituted at halftime after only 11 touches, none in the penalty area.
As our chief football reporter Craig Hope puts it, Woltemade is “the missing piece in someone else’s jigsaw,” a player who is good, but not quite right for Newcastle’s current attack.
Injuries Compound Forward Woes
Yoane Wissa replaced Woltemade, but his lack of match fitness was glaring.
Less than a minute into the second half, he had a clear chance on goal, but his movement was laboured and his finish hopelessly sliced wide.
Wissa is still building rhythm after missing the first three months of the season with a knee injury, and Howe suggested that judgment on him must wait until he has a full pre-season under his belt.
Anthony Gordon might have been the ideal central striker, but he was forced off before halftime with a hamstring issue — a development Howe described as a “big worry.”
Will Osula came on late in the game, but the Dane is believed to have wanted a January move away, leaving questions about motivation.
Newcastle’s forward options look perilously thin.
Thiaw Needs a Rest
Malick Thiaw, Newcastle’s standout defender since September, looked exhausted.
City’s movement around him allowed Marmoush to break through for the early goal, exposing fatigue that has been creeping in after months of near-constant play.
While Thiaw saw out the 90 minutes, Howe may need to give him a well-earned break to protect confidence and maintain his Premier League form.
Guardiola Shows Admiration for Tonali
Off the field, there was an intriguing subplot: Pep Guardiola’s interaction with Sandro Tonali after the match.
Despite rumours linking Arsenal to Tonali, they did not make an approach.
Still, Guardiola’s lengthy post-match chat and embrace with the Newcastle midfielder did not go unnoticed.
The City boss explained, “My Italian is perfect, so that’s why I can communicate with him.
We have a friend in common in Brescia… He’s a really top, top player.
A top player.” The exchange underlined that Tonali remains on the radar of elite clubs with the resources to make a move.
Elanga Provides a Silver Lining
Amid a gloomy evening, Anthony Elanga provided a spark of hope.
The £55m signing from Nottingham Forest scored his first goal in 32 matches, curling past three defenders into the bottom corner.
He missed another close-range chance shortly after, but the breakthrough could signal a turning point in his Newcastle career, which has so far been disappointing.
Lessons to Take Forward
For Newcastle, the defeat is a bitter reminder of the fragility of their squad depth and the need for sharper finishing and tactical discipline.
Howe’s defensive setup was undone by high-tempo counters, key players are nursing injuries, and the centre-forward position remains unsettled.
The positives are few, but Elanga’s goal and Thiaw’s reliability offer small beacons as the season continues.
