Newcastle United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
After needing 120 minutes and penalties to edge past AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, Eddie Howe made seven changes to his starting XI.
Only Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa kept their places as Nick Pope, Lewis Miley, Lewis Hall, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy came in Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento, Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes and Nick Woltemade.
Man City broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Jeremy Doku’s cross was flicked forward by Bernardo Silva and finished off by Antoine Semenyo. It came moments after the Magpies were twice denied by the woodwork as James Trafford tipped Yoane Wissa’s header onto the crossbar before Bruno Guimaraes hit the post.
Semenyo thought he had doubled Man City’s lead on the hour-mark but after a lengthy VAR check, Erling Haaland was penalised for being offside in the build-up. But the visitors did get a second and it came in stoppage time when Rayan Cherki fired his shot low past Nick Pope.
It leaves Newcastle with a mountain to climb heading into the second-leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, February 4.
Here are our Newcastle United player ratings:
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5. Lewis Hall - 8
Showed some terrific close control to carry the ball forward. Oozed composure. A class act. | AFP via Getty Images
6. Bruno Guimaraes - 6
Always showed for the ball and came close to opening the scoring after his shot hit the post. Put in a hard shift. | AFP via Getty Images
7. Jacob Ramsey - 6
Covered well defensively but was wasteful with the ball. Didn’t help that he was off the pitch receiving treatment when Man City opened the scoring. | Getty Images
8. Joelinton - 6
Gave every last ounce in a midfield scrap. Little to show it bar a yellow card, sadly. Battler. | Getty Images