Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe (c) reacts after the Carabao Cup semi final first leg

What Geordies are being forced to contemplate is the probable end of our reign as Carabao Cup holders, a cherished position after so long with no need for a bottle of silver polish.

This Wednesday night Newcastle must descend into the blue half of Manchester two goals down and needing a massive swing in fortunes to make it back to Wembley. Not impossible, nothing is in a two horse race, but hardly an everyday occurrence especially for this United.

The size of the task can be underlined by many things - shocking away form, four goals shipped at Liverpool, and the fact that the last Magpie to score at City was DeAndre Yedlin way back in September 2018. That's 690 minutes of barren play.

There is always a price to pay for squandering obvious advantage which is what United did at SJP. Now it'll need an inspirational Pep talk from Eddie Howe and a huge dollop of luck to change what every neutral and City supporter is expecting.

If Geordies (and the club) can moan about being...