Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe was delighted to see his side beat Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, accepting the Carabao Cup final came at a bad time for the Magpies.
Howe's men were beaten 2-0 at Wembley earlier in the season but extracted a measure of revenge with a 2-0 St James' Park win last weekend. Joe Willock and Callum Wilson scored in the second half to help the hosts leapfrog Ten Hag's side in the Premier League table on goal difference.
It was a third straight win for Newcastle, a contrast to the run of results the Magpies were on ahead of Wembley in February. Their last league match prior to the showpiece saw a defeat to Liverpool saw goalkeeper Nick Pope sent off, meaning the England international missed the final.
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Third-choice goalkeeper Loris Karius was drafted into the side, with number two Martin Dubravka cup-tied after featuring for United in the third and fourth round while on loan at Old Trafford. Comparatively, Erik ten Hag's team were on a nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions coming into the final and duly prevailed.
Howe, looking back in the aftermath of the weekend victory, said: “Looking back, we possibly weren’t in a great moment at the time of the final, and Manchester United were.
"It possibly came at a bad time for us. We had Nick (Pope) suspended, and obviously, that’s a huge blow for us. But it is what it is. We have to take it and live with it – I’m just pleased with how we did in our last game.”
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