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Chronicle Live

Sport

Ciaran Kelly

Manchester United give Newcastle new motivation and owner sends exciting message - 5 things

Newcastle (Organization) Manchester United Eddie Howe Loris Karius Marcus Rashford Magpies Newcastle United Allan SaintMaximin Wembley Bruno Fernandes

Newcastle United's long wait for silverware goes on after the Magpies were defeated 2-0 by Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.

Casemiro opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after getting his head on Luke Shaw's free-kick and Manchester United scored their crucial second just a few minutes later after Marcus Rashford's shot took a wicked deflection off Sven Botman.

Here are five things we learned from the game at Wembley.

Owners see what's needed as Newcastle given new motivation

However familiar this sinking feeling felt for those who Newcastle supporters remember previous final defeats in '99, '98, '76 and '74, this is the start of a new era rather than the end of one. If anything, the pain of this loss will push the club on further after Eddie Howe and his squad watched Manchester United go and lift the trophy They won't want to experience this feeling again and, the way Newcastle are heading, it is hard to imagine the Magpies waiting another 24 years to have the chance to end the drought at Wembley.

The club's owners were all in attendance - Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Amanda Staveley comforted players and staff after they climbed the steps to receive their runners-up medals - and they already know this squad needs additional help in the summer. As part-owner Jamie Reuben said after the game: "Don’t doubt we will be back - stronger and better."

Disastrous six minutes prove costly

Loris Karius has the word 'fearless' tattooed on his neck for a reason and, in some ways, the calm German's personality suited this scenario as well as the fact he was one of the few reserve goalkeepers who just so happened to have experience of playing in the biggest games in football. Even if the 2018 Champions League final was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

However, it did not matter who was between the sticks if Newcastle did not protect their goal and all the Magpies' good work in the opening half-hour or so was undone in the space of just a few minutes. Firstly, Casemiro headed home Luke Shaw's free-kick and, then, in the 39th minute, it was too easy for Wout Weghorst to slip Marcus Rashford in and the forward's shot took a wicked deflection off the foot of the sliding Sven Botman and Karius could only tip it into the net.

Newcastle were left with a mountain to climb, but Karius did still make important saves to deny Wout Weghorst before half-time and Marcus Rashford late on when a third goal would have killed off the black-and-whites once and for all. Even in stoppage time, Karius stepped up to keep out Bruno Fernandes when the Manchester United star was through one-on-one.

Fans do themselves proud

Less than twenty-four hours after Newcastle supporters took over Trafalgar Square, Geordies descended on Wembley in their numbers. Newcastle may only have been allocated as many tickets as Manchester United - 32,761 to be precise - but they certainly made themselves heard. Even Wor Flags were in situ as the fan group delivered on their vow to 'create a spectacular sight to welcome the players onto the pitch' as each supporter waved a flag to create a stunning display.

Yet what was most striking about that support was that, even at 2-0 down, Newcastle fans continued to urge their side on as they chanted: "Sing your hearts out for the lads!" It said it all that in the final minutes that Newcastle supporters were united as they waved their flags in unison. It was a special moment.

Newcastle lack killer touch once more

Newcastle had reached a first final since 1999 yet the Magpies had not achieved anything yet. That is how high standards now are at the club.

Newcastle were not simply going down to Wembley for a day out. There was no talk of suit fittings or bus parades at the media day earlier this week where interviews with Howe and his players tellingly took place five full days before the final so the focus could be purely on the 'football and tactical side' as the big day neared.

That steely focus showed. Newcastle may have been stuttering, just as Manchester United hit form, ahead of this showpiece, but the Magpies will not have travelled to the capital in fear and made an encouraging start to this game with the lively Allan Saint-Maximin front and centre. It said it all that Diogo Dalot picked up a booking after just nine minutes for a cynical foul on the Frenchman.

Dalot did not look comfortable with Saint-Maximin - it was rather telling that he was replaced by Aaron Wan-Bissaka at half-time - and the mercurial forward easily beat the right-back in the 33rd-minute to get a shot away. However, David de Gea made a superb save to keep Saint-Maximin's effort out.

It ultimately proved one of two shots on target Newcastle had at Wembley. This is a side who have now scored nine goals in their last dozen games in all competitions and it shows.

Newcastle show heartening response at 2-0

It would have been easy for Newcastle to capitulate after conceding two goals in the space of just six minutes in the first half but, to their credit, Howe's side kept going. Dan Burn had a great chance to equalise just before the break, but the defender's header went just wide at a time when a goal before half-time could have been huge.

Howe switched to a 4-2-3-1 after the break and threw on Alexander Isak in support of Callum Wilson, and you certainly could not fault Newcastle's effort or work-rate. The returning Bruno Guimaraes even took one for the team when he came off worse following his sliding tackle on Bruno Fernandes, which was the sort of committed challenge that gave Newcastle fans a lift. No wonder they continued to encourage their side.