As Newcastle United placed one foot into the Carabao Cup final for the second time in three seasons, there was a predictable, measured response from Eddie Howe.
The message from the boss was simple. “Calm, calm” was the shout to assistant Jason Tindall in the moments after the 2-0 win as the Magpies boss refused to get carried away with the reverse leg to come in early February.
Many Newcastle fans would have happily taken a draw at the Emirates on Tuesday evening but the visitors went one better, with goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon giving the black and white outfit a healthy lead for the second leg on home soil. While the 6,000-strong away end sang of Wembley and not returning home for tea, Howe was never going to lose focus on the task at hand, with plans no doubt already being drawn up for Arsenal’s return in just a few weeks.
“It’s still very much game on and we’ve only done half the work,” Howe said after the clash. “These are big wins for us – hopefully that can help us in future games.
“We have to try and win at any ground and go into any game feeling that we are capable of doing that. When you’re in my shoes you have to be strategic and plan well. The second leg is there in the future but it now goes out of my focus.”
Tindall has often being embroiled with touchline spats in previous clashes with Arsenal but both benches remained calm throughout an entertaining game on the pitch. The Gunners huffed and puffed in the second period as Howe shifted to a defence-orientated system but Newcastle kept their discipline to see out the tie – something Howe desired from both his players and staff before the game.
“You always have to stand up for each other as long as it’s in a controlled way. I don’t want us to lose discipline in any way,” he said earlier this week. “We have been pretty good with that this season. There is a line in terms of your behaviour that you don’t want to cross.
“You don’t want to be reckless, but we have to be strong and resolute, and definitely protect each other on the pitch. Off the pitch, in terms of our conduct, it’s got to be again strong and resolute but not reckless.”
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