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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Sam Dalling at Hillsborough

Eddie Howe cites fatigue to defend Newcastle’s changes for FA Cup defeat

Eddie Howe applauds Newcastle’s travelling fans after the FA Cup third-round defeat to Sheffield Wednesday
Eddie Howe applauds Newcastle’s travelling fans after the FA Cup third-round defeat to Sheffield Wednesday. Photograph: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock

Eddie Howe has defended his decision to make wholesale changes to his side for Newcastle United’s shock FA Cup third round defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday night, explaining that fatigue played its part.

With half an eye on Tuesday’s home Carabao Cup quarter-final against Leicester, Howe made eight changes to the team which had earned a draw at Arsenal on Tuesday. But the decision backfired when Josh Windass’s second-half double ended Newcastle’s 15-game unbeaten run and sent them out of the competition to League One opponents for the second consecutive season.

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