Newcastle need to do something no side has done in 32 years to reach League Cup Final

Newcastle face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup Semi-Final, looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg and book their place at Wembley for the second-year running.

The Magpies won their first trophy in 60 years when Eddie Howe’s men beat Liverpool in last year’s League Cup Final. But their chances of repeating that feat are looking very slim this time around.

Goals from Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki at St James Park last month have left Newcastle needing a miracle in the return leg at the Etihad.

If Newcastle are going to book another day out at Wembley, they are going to need to do something no side has managed in the League Cup for 32 years.

Magpies looking to make League Cup history against City

You would have to go all the way back to 1994 to find a side that has managed to overturn a two-goal deficit in a League Cup Semi-Final.

After a shocking first leg, Aston Villa found themselves 3-1 down to Championship side Tranmere Rovers as the two sides headed into the decider at Villa Park.

A last-minute consolation goal from Dalian Atkinson at Prenton Park had given Villa a lifeline after John Aldridge looked to have put the tie to bed for Tranmere. And it was another late Atkinson goal that proved the difference in the second leg, as his 88th-minute strike took the game into extra time with the tie 4-4 on aggregate.

The Villains still needed penalties to see off their plucky visitors and eventually booked their place in the final with a 5-4 shootout win.

Aston Villa went on to beat Manchester United 3-1 in the final before repeating the feat against Leeds United two years later.

Good omens for Newcastle?

The bad news for Newcastle is that they haven’t won at the Etihad since 2014.

The good news is that their last victory there was a 2-0 victory in the fourth round of the League Cup, which is exactly the scoreline they need to have any hopes of playing Arsenal in the final on March 22.

In a real blast from the past, goals from Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko saw the Magpies dump holders Manchester City out of the competition.

Of course, a lot has changed since then, with the Citizens tightening their grip on English football under Pep Guardiola in the last decade.

However, with Pep looking particularly grumpy of late, and both Newcastle and City missing players through injury, Eddie Howe may fancy his chances of achieving the impossible.