Eddie Howe saw his Newcastle United team the fifth one pulled out of the hat in Monday night’s FA Cup fifth round draw.
Cups of tea raised across Tyneside in celebration of a home draw.
Newcastle United fans though feeling the need of a drop of the harder stuff, as the sixth club was pulled out.
Manchester City, again.
Eddie Howe and Newcastle United having already faced Pep Guardiola and his players twice this season in the cups, Carabao Cup semi-final matches in January and February, now having to face Man City in March as well in the domestic cups.
The reality of course is that, if you look to progress much in either of the domestic cups, then getting past ‘Big Six’ clubs is almost always going to be part of that.
Indeed, the options in the Carabao Cup semi-final draw had been Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.
For those in despair, it might help to have a look at this.
Newcastle United results under Eddie Howe against ‘Big Six’ clubs in domestic cup competitions:
Man U 2 Newcastle 0 (26 February 2023 – Carabao Cup final)
Newcastle 1 Man City 0 (27 September 2023 – Carabao Cup third round)
Man U 0 Newcastle 3 (1 November 2023 – Carabao Cup fourth round)
Chelsea 1 Newcastle 1 and NUFC lose on penalties (19 December 2023 – Carabao Cup quarter-final)
Man City 2 Newcastle 0 (16 March 2024 – FA Cup quarter-final)
Newcastle 2 Chelsea 0 (30 October 2024 – Carabao Cup fourth round)
Arsenal 0 Newcastle 2 (7 January 2025 – Carabao Cup semi-final first leg)
Newcastle 2 Arsenal 0 (5 February 2025 – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg)
Liverpool 1 Newcastle 2 (16 March 2025 – Carabao Cup final)
Newcastle 2 Spurs 0 (29 October 2025 – Carabao Cup fourth round)
Newcastle 0 Man City 2 (13 January 2026 – Carabao Cup semi-final first leg)
Man City 3 Newcastle 1 (4 February 2026 – Carabao Cup semi-final second leg)
Eddie Howe complete ‘Big Six’ Cup record – Played 12 Won 7 Lost 5
Eddie Howe complete ‘Big Six’ Cup record at home – Played 5 Won 4 Lost 1
Newcastle United, under Eddie Howe, have defeated all of the ‘Big Six’ in cup competitions within the last three years.
Even better, NUFC have won four of the five cup games at home against ‘Big Six’ sides without even conceding a goal.
Obviously I am aware of the exception to that, Manchester City in January. Though that match United didn’t deserve to lose, didn’t take our chances and Man City did. It happens
If last night’s draw had seen it land the other way, having to play them at the Etihad, I would have thought we were cursed. However, no way was Pep Guardiola cheering when he was watching this FA Cup fifth round draw.
Put it this way, I would far rather take Manchester City on at St James’ Park, than at Wembley or the Etihad. Also, United have already won against Man City at SJP this season, it was only three months ago when NUFC were comfortably the better side against Manchester City, winning 2-1 when it should have been by more.
Of course it was gutting to see none of the other favourites to win the trophy facing each other, as the draw unfolded (all eight ties detailed below). If say Liverpool had drawn Arsenal, you would have been thinking if we get past Manchester City then it really opens up.
Reality is though, as last season proved, if Newcastle United are to win trophies, we need to do it the tough way. ‘Big Six’ clubs Chelsea, Arsenal (twice!) and Liverpool defeated in our Carabao Cup triumph last season, plus having to beat Brentford and Forest (who would finish top seven in the Premier League).
This time has now already handed the task in cup competitions of having to face Spurs, Fulham, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Manchester City (three times!).
I would rather not be playing Manchester City what feels like every other match but St James’ Park on the weekend of Saturday 7 March…bring it on!
The full FA Cup fifth round draw (in the order they were pulled out):
Fulham v Southampton
Port Vale or Bristol City v Sunderland
Newcastle United v Man City
Leeds v Norwich
Mansfield v Arsenal
Wolves v Liverpool
Wrexham v Chelsea
West Ham v Brentford