They were words that summoned up mixed emotions for Newcastle United supporters. Within two hours of the meek FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City, Magpies midfielder Bruno Guimaraes admitted his side had ‘ten games in the Premier League to save their season’. Some may think this was overplaying the situation, others will view it as brutal honesty and some may see it as a passionate player striving for higher standards from both himself and his team.
Summing up Newcastle’s season is full of complexity, consideration and contradiction. Their Champions League adventure brought a night for the ages in a 4-1 hammering of Paris Saint-Germain and a hearty draw in the San Siro against AC Milan. Yet there is a feeling the Magpies failed to make the most of what was a promising stage to their ‘Group of Death’ campaign, despite the hard luck story that played out with PSG’s late penalty in the 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes,
Their Carabao Cup campaign was full of excitement and achievement after a rare win at Old Trafford as a much-changed Magpies side saw off Manchester United had come on the back of a hearty performance in a home win against Manchester City in the previous round. Yet once again, there was a feeling of what might have been as a late Kieran Trippier error allowed Chelsea to force a quarter-final tie to a penalty shoot-out that brought a heartbreaking end to hopes of a Wembley return.
The FA Cup brought further contrasting emotions after Howe became the first Newcastle manager since Alan Pardew to win a Wear-Tyne derby as Alexander Isak’s brace helped the Magpies to a 3-0 win in a third round tie at Sunderland. Geordie boys Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn scored in an impressive 2-0 win at Fulham and number two goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was the star man as Blackburn Rovers were seen off after a penalty shoot-out in a fifth round tie. But, again, there was disappointment, as Newcastle failed to force Manchester City out of first gear in Saturday’s quarter-final tie at the Etihad Stadium.
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