MAN CITY 0, NEWCASTLE 2
Manchester City were knocked out of the Capital One Cup on a night when Newcastle United caused a major upset with their victory at the Etihad Stadium.
Goals from Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko booked a last-eight place for Newcastle who recorded their third straight victory following a challenging start to the season.
It was also totally unexpected as Newcastle finally banished their abysmal record against City.
City had previously recorded 11 straight victories against Newcastle and unbeaten against them in 17 meetings. Newcastle had also failed to score in their five previous matches against City.
And it was against this depressing backdrop that Newcastle pulled off this shock victory as City produced a lack-lustre display just four days before the Manchester derby.
It was a concern to City manager Manuel Pellegrini who admitted his side, which has suffered three successive defeats, is suffering from a lack of confidence.
Pellegrini said: “We are not playing well and it is a difficult moment and we have a lack of trust.
“The three games have been very similar in that we have conceded two goals in each of them. We are conceding too easily and attacking missing too many chances.”
Pellegrini added that it is a worry that his side is not playing as it usually does, especially the way they are passing the ball.
“We must find a solution,” explained City’s manager who added it was a blow to be knocked out of the competition, even though it is the least important of the four pieces of silverware they are chasing.
Pellegrini continued: “It is important for our team to be involved in four competitions. People say it is not important, but it is important for our team.”
It was a new-look City as Yaya Toure, David Silva, Edin Dzeko and Eliaquim Mangala were the only survivors from the starting line up at West Ham on Saturday.
Newcastle also made seven changes from the side which won at Tottenham on Sunday but, despite having a makeshift side, they stole ahead in the sixth minute.
Fernandinho was robbed by Rolando Aarons who sprinted away before firing a low angled shot through the legs of keeper Willy Caballero.
It was only the second goal scored for the 18-year-old Jamaican-born winger who has represented England at under-20 level and the first goal Newcastle had scored against City in 525 minutes.
And City’s night got worse moments later when Silva limped off after injuring his knee following an earlier challenge by Ryan Taylor. He was replaced by Samir Nasri.
It took City 20 minutes for City to create their first clear-cut chance when Stevan Jovetic was denied by a super stop by keeper Rob Elliot.
There was another let off for Newcastle when Aleksandar Kolarov’s cross deflected off Fabricio Coloccini and struck an upright with Elliot beaten.
Newcastle would have added a second goal had City keeper Willy Caballero not made a great save with his legs to keep out a low volley from Paul Dummett while Elliot did well to push away a drive from Toure as City briefly threatened.
City brought on Jesus Navas for Toure just short of the hour as they looked for new invention to try and unlock Newcastle’s defence.
There was drama with 21 minutes left when Newcastle were seething after being denied what looked a clear penalty after a challenge by Kolarov on Gabriel Obertan with referee Stuart Attwell waved played on.
And it was a measure of City’s growing desperation that they summoned star striker Sergio Aguero from the bench.
Newcastle’s night got even better when they scored a second in the 75th minute when substitute Moussa Sissoko weaved his way through the City defence before placing a shot low past Caballero.
City finally came to life as Dzeko had a shot heroically blocked on the goalline by Ryan Taylor while Navas also fired a shot agonisingly wide of the upright, but it was a case of too little, too late.