Newcastle’s reasons for optimism in Man City FA Cup tie

Now that the dust has settled slightly after Newcastle United were paired with Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals, it’s worth remembering that it’s never all over, until it’s all over!

Yes, Eddie Howe’s Magpies will be massive underdogs and they have already been handed odds of 10/1 to beat City in the cup by Bet 365. However, there are a few reasons to keep the door ajar and be optimistic because what’s clear is that Pep Guardiola’s side are only human and do make mistakes from time to time.

Ahead of the tie in two weeks, we look at the reasons to stay positive and how a cup upset could still be on the cards for Eddie Howe’s team.

They’ve beaten Man City once this season and ran them close in other games

It may have been back in early autumn but Newcastle beat Man City 1-0 at St James’ Park thanks to an Alexander Isak goal. True, Man City weren’t full strength that night but then neither were Newcastle as stars like Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Anthony Gordon and Fabian Schar were named on the bench.

At the Etihad back in August in the Premier League, it ended only 1-0 to City and Newcastle perhaps should have taken a point while they came within 15 minutes of beating Guardiola’s side at St James’ Park and were only denied a point stoppage time through Oscar Bobb’s winner.

Yes it will be tough but in the games between the two sides so far, there’s not been much in it.

Nick Pope could be back between the posts

The England stopper has been sidelined since early December and Newcastle have missed him badly. Pope brings confidence to the team and allows them to play a much more pressing game.

Having suffered a shoulder injury, Pope spent most of the winter in the treatment room but he has been spotted on the grass again and has started light training. He was always pencilled in for a March return and while this game might come a little early, his comeback game can’t be ruled out for the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Man City will be at the end of a tough cycle of season defining games

Is it a good time to play Man City in the middle of March? Well, you could argue that there’s never a good time to play Pep’s side.

However, this game will come on the back of four games in 13 days for Man City and they must face up to a Manchester derby, a Champions League tie at home to Copenhagen and a trip to Liverpool before Newcastle. You just never know if the clash against the Magpies will be a game too far.

In comparison, Newcastle have just two games in that time, at home to Wolves then a trip to Chelsea just five days before, so Howe will get three or four sessions with the players without interruption.

The 8,000 fans travelling to the Etihad Stadium on a mission

Newcastle fans provided their team with energy when they needed it most at Blackburn thanks to the presence of 7,400 fans. There’ll be a few more behind the goal at City and they won’t wasted the opportunity to make some noise.

It may not be on neutral territory but this could have a semi-final style atmosphere to it given Newcastle are just 90 minutes away from Wembley.

Man City’s good home form must end at some time and records are there to be broken

City made it through the whole of 2023 without a home defeat in any competition and their last defeat on home soil came in November 2022 against Brentford. This season they have maintained their unscathed sequence which will be put to the test against Man United and Copenhagen first.

Newcastle could have the chance to inflict that first defeat at the Etihad for a long time. It’s just another incentive potentially.