Eddie Howe met the media this morning ahead of tomorrow’s trip to St Mary’s for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
This game comes off the back of a disappointing 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park where Newcastle dropped two points due to not taking their chances. On the positive side, the team did play well up until the final third – reminiscent of the start of the season when we couldn’t buy a win.
Newcastle should still go into this game full of confidence given Southampton’s form this season, but also wary, after all they did beat Manchester City to get to this game.
Howe says this one is for the fans (via The Chronicle): “We want it to be a tie for the supporters. I think the away game will be a good spectacle. The home game will be a very, very special night I think. We’re desperate for the next step but we have to take our mind off that and focus on the job – and that job is to go to Southampton.”
On the luck of the draw: “Just being in the semi was all we cared about. Beating Leicester was our priority and then you take whatever is in front of you. We know what we have to do. It’s going to be two really difficult games for us. I’m under no illusions of that.”
Southampton have had a recent managerial change and Howe also addressed this in his briefing: “It hasn’t been a huge transition, Ralph had his way of playing and Nathan has his. There are subtle differences.
I admire Nathan greatly as a manager. He’s done very, very well in his career. What a job he did at Luton and he’s now gone to a new club and wants to implement his ideas. We know with the new manager and players coming in, it’s a different challenge that we face than under Ralph.”