Published: 02:00, 5 February 2026 | Updated: 02:00, 5 February 2026

Newcastle’s defence of the Carabao Cup is over - and they were as good as returning the trophy to EFL HQ after seven minutes of this second leg.

Training 2-0 from the opening tie at St James’ Park, Eddie Howe set up with a 5-3-2 system designed to keep it tight and play on the break.

As it was, City profited from three lightening quick counters of their own before half-time and led 3-0 inside 32 minutes. Anthony Elanga responded with a consolation in the second half, but from the moment Ormar Marmoush opened the scoring in the seventh minute, the contest was done.

Howe said: ‘The first goal was going to be crucial. I'm really annoyed with the first-half display. We pride ourselves on being really organised. Tactically we want to be able to handle any problem the opposition give us. But individually we were off. It was not good enough. We didn’t win our duels.’

So, where did it all go wrong for Newcastle, and were there any positives? Our chief...