Newcastle United produced a stunning performance to secure a 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday (1 November) to book a place in the quarter-finals of this competition.
BBC pundit, Conor McNamara, was full of praise for Eddie Howe for transforming the team completely. Under Howe, the Magpies secured a spot in the Champions League last season, and they have made a strong start to the 2023-24 campaign already.
Speaking on BBC Football Daily, McNamara says that the current group of players work as a team. He suggests that players like Joelinton, Sean Longstaff, and Miguel Almiron were “bang average” under previous managers, but they have all looked “world beaters” under Howe.
“It is a testament to Eddie Howe, the attitude, the mindset, the belief he has put into his players, that it almost doesn’t matter the individual in the position,” said McNamara.
“They are a proper team now. What Eddie Howe has been able to do with players like Longstaff, Joelinton, and Almiron who looked bang-average under other managers in this team, they now look like world beaters, and you have to give huge credit to Eddie Howe.”
Top quality performance
This is only the second time the Magpies have beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford since 1972. In the process, they have avenged their Carabao Cup final defeat at Wembley last season.
First-half goals from substitute Miguel Almiron and Lewis Hall and a solo effort from Joe Willock on the hour gave the Magpies an easy victory.
The Magpies will now travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea – who defeated Blackburn Robers 2-0 in the fourth round – in the EFL Cup.
Howe will be concerned with the injury to Matt Targett who went down with what seemed to be a pretty severe hamstring injury. The Magpies are already missing a host of key players and Howe’s options are limited at the moment.
