EDDIE Howe refused to take credit for Newcastle's second half improvement and victory against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, pointing the praise in the direction of his players after the Magpies set up a fourth round date with Manchester United.
Newcastle were second best in the first half against Pep Guardiola's treble winners but were a team transformed after the break, with Howe's decision to introduce Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes working a treat. Alexander Isak scored the winner.
Howe made a couple of tactical tweaks at half-time but said it was his players who deserve the plaudits.
"I said a few things. I don't necessarily think it was anything I said so I won't give myself the credit for that," said Howe.
"I'll give the players the credit for probably just feeling better about the team. It was probably the balance of the team and the players believed a bit more we could win the game. There's a whole host of reasons that could be, we did tweak a few things tactically but the players deserve all the credit."
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He added: "Our plan was to try to be a bit more aggressive in the fist half than we were, but as I've said many times, games can sometimes go differently to how you prepare and what you want.
“We probably lacked a little bit of confidence and personality in that first half when we started to come under a little bit of pressure.
“But in saying that, we dug in and we were difficult to play through, they didn't create too many clear-cut chances tonight, so even in that first half, it was really important in those moments that you stay in the game and give yourselves a chance - because you know the game will turn at some stage – to win the game like we did."
With the favourites to win the competition now out, Howe was asked whether the Carabao Cup becomes more of a priority for the Magpies.
Howe, who made 10 changes for the game, said: "I don't think we're looking too far ahead. We can only look at what's in front of us and trying to continue the good form that we're in. Then when this competition comes around again, we'll give it our full focus.
"The preparation for today was the same as any other game. Yes, we rotated the team but we felt that was a necessity. We still wanted to win the game."
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