Eddie Howe has challenged Newcastle to serve up some "magical moments" and rekindle their hopes of defending the Carabao Cup.
The Magpies will aim to get back into the cup tie after Manchester City secured a 2-0 triumph against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at St James' Park.
The visitors established a commanding advantage ahead of the return fixture, with Antoine Semenyo finding the net for the second consecutive match.
Rayan Cherki added a late second to seal the victory in the closing stages.
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Asked about the decisive trip to the Etihad Stadium, Howe said: "We’re still alive, we’re still in there fighting, although it is very difficult to turn it around.
"It’s still possible and football can conjure up some magical moments.
"Last year, we were on the other side of this scoreline.
"We went to Arsenal and won 2-0 and we felt that game was still very much alive, it was all about the next goal in the tie. I think that’s going to be the case in this one - if we can get the next goal, we’re still very much in it."
Eddie Howe has challenged Newcastle to serve up some 'magical moments'
|GETTY
He added: "We saw enough today to think we can be competitive, and we weren’t at our absolute best physically.
"But I still think we caused them problems, so we’re going to have to go with that same mindset again."
The defeat ended a run of four successive wins in all competitions.
Howe then turned his attention to Sunday’s Premier League trip to struggling Wolves and the Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven.
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Manchester City secured a 2-0 triumph against Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg
| GETTYHe said: “It’s a disappointing defeat, but I don’t think it’s a majorly disappointing performance.
"I don’t think it should tar confidence in any way. In fact I think in some senses, it should enhance it.
"We were close to doing really well against one of the best teams in the division, but we have to refocus now.
"We’ve got a really difficult game against Wolves where, if we go with any fatigue or without the right mindset, these are really difficult games, as we’ve found before this season."
Newcastle United will hope to make the final
| GETTYNewcastle United are the current holders of the Cup.
They came into the match with strong home form, unbeaten in 13 matches at St. James' Park across all competitions, and a recent Premier League win against Man City in November 2025.
Pep Guardiola, who entered the match on an impressive 12-match unbeaten run across all competitions, has a perfect record in EFL Cup semi-finals.
However, they are currently facing extensive defensive injuries.