newcastle boss Eddie Howe Has told its players that they cannot be satisfied by reaching here carabao cup final and challenged them to win it to end the club’s 54-year trophy drought.
Tuesday night’s 2-1 semi-final second leg victory over Southampton at a packed St James’ Park secured a 3-1 aggregate success and the Magpies to collect their first piece of major silverware and first home prize since 1969 kept the hopes alive. 1955 FA Cup.
However, with both manchester united either nottingham forest Waiting for them at Wembley on 26 February, head coach Howe insisted they were not done yet.
He said: “You always want something. We have achieved what we wanted to achieve, which was to reach the final, but then you say, ‘Okay, I’m not happy with it, we want to win it’.
“I think it’s a great thing and I want my players to feel the same way.
“We really want to embrace our past and be very proud of what’s happened here before, but we also want to make history for ourselves, so that’s what we’re determined to do.”
The win on the night perhaps came courtesy of an early double from local boy Sean Longstaff, with a stinging reply from Che Adams being enough to prompt slight concern despite a late red card for a challenge on Bruno Guimarães’ substitute Sam Adozzi.
Asked about Longstaff’s contribution, Howe said: “Shaun’s a really level-headed guy. He loves the club, he’s Newcastle all the way.
“I’m so happy he got the spotlight tonight. The two goals were great finishes.
He said, ‘ His all-round performance this season has been excellent. He is getting the award for what I saw last year.
“He didn’t play for me initially, but behind the scenes, I saw a player who was really committed to his training, really wanted to improve, so I’m glad he’s getting his rewards now.”
Guimarães, who played a big role in Newcastle’s run to the final, teared up the pitch but will be available once again for the trip to HQ after Premier League clashes with West Ham, Bournemouth and Liverpool through suspension .
Howe said: “There is no intention, absolutely zero intention. I thought the red card was harsh, but it happened and we have to deal with it.”
opposite number nathan jones admitted that his team had to pay for a slow start, which saw them trail 2–0 after only 21 minutes.
Jones said: “Look, congratulations to Newcastle, they’re a fantastic side and they probably deserved it, over the whole two legs.
“We’re really, really frustrated with the first 15, 20 minutes because we gave ourselves a mountain to climb.
“They are bad goals to give away. The reaction was fantastic, we got a goal and then I thought we were the better side from then on.
“But to ask ourselves to score three goals at St James’ Park to take the game into extra-time, for example, is a big, big ask because these are not conceded goals.”