Five Things Learned: Newcastle United 0-2 Manchester City (Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg) | OneFootball

Manchester City made it back-to-back wins after taking an early advantage in their Carabao Cup semi-final tie with Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Tuesday night.

Pep Guardiola’s side have now gone their last 13 games unbeaten in all competitions, with two second-half goals sending the Blues into the second leg of the semi-final with a comfortable advantage.

The first-half was about as even as it gets. With both sides having their chances to take the lead, Yoanne Wissa’s early chance looked as if it might be the one to break the deadlock but a poor strike sent the ball flying high over the bar.

Shortly after Bernardo Silva’s ball across the face of goal begged for a finish but Erling Haaland couldn’t quite make the connection. Thereafter, it was a scrappy affair with neither side able to create anything clear cut. It would take until the 53rd minute for a breakthrough.

Jeremy Doku’s driven cross was met perfectly by Antoine Semenyo at the backpost to put the Blues ahead. Just nine minutes later City’s newest addition struck again with a brilliant backheel finish; however a six minute VAR check would somehow see the goal ruled out for a more than marginal offside call on Erling Haaland.

With the decision confirmed St. James’ Park roared to life, raising the performance of an already resilient Newcastle side to a new level. The following 37 minutes were as tense as they come, with both sides sharing the ball almost equally in an end to end affair.

In the ninth minute of added time, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki combined brilliantly on the left flank, leading to Cherki’s 17th goal involvement in just 27 games in a Manchester City shirt. The late strike sees Guardiola and co take a commanding lead back to the Etihad Stadium, where Eddie Howe’s side will face an uphill task in their bid to retain the trophy.

For Manchester City, it is now back to back wins after three consecutive draws, confidence will be at a high going into the Manchester derby on Saturday.

Here are five things we learned from Manchester City’s 2-0 win in the north-east:

1. Captain Bernardo sets the standard

With Nico O’Reilly being called on in the holding midfield role against arguably the most physical midfield in the league, a big performance from Silva would be imperative to take the load off of the 20-year-old midfielder-turned-left-back.

The Portuguese midfielder put on exactly the kind of performance that earned him the captain’s armband at the start of the season. Right from the early stages of the game, the hosts had no answer for Silva’s exceptional ball retention and positional awareness – and that theme continued throughout.

Silva was also more than a match for the physical nature of Bruno Guimaraes’ and Joelinton’s midfield play, making O’Reilly’s job just that bit easier.

Ordinarily committing fouls isn’t something that would be spoken about in a positive light, but Bernardo’s three fouls committed disrupted Newcastle’s rhythm in some crucial moments – the kind of gamesmanship City supporters admire and opposition fans loathe.

Couple that with a game high three fouls won, it becomes clear just how involved the 31-year-old was in an intense midfield battle. If Silva can turn in this sort of performance in the second leg, a trip to Wembley in March is all but guaranteed.

2. Trafford up to the task

James Trafford’s involvement has been almost entirely limited to cup competitions since the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma but if he can continue to perform at the level displayed today, he may just give Guardiola something to think about in the future.

The 23-year-old’s ball playing and distribution was consistent and crisp throughout, with 19 successful passes and seven accurate long balls, his on-ball play was reminiscent of what City fans have become so used to in seasons gone by.

He was pressed high on several occasions and never looked anything less than calm and composed even with the opposition breathing down his neck. His 69th minute volley to clear a risky, lofted backpass perfectly showcased just how adept he is with his feet.

The standout moment of his performance did not come with the ball at his feet, however. In the 69th minute, Yoane Wissa met a cross with a looping header seemingly destined for the top corner – only for Trafford to produce a seemingly impossible save to preserve City’s lead.

With two saves, three punches, and 45 touches, this was the sort of performance that shows exactly why Manchester City leapt at the chance to bring James Trafford back to the club.

3. Semenyo makes his mark again

Semenyo’s first-half was rather quiet when compared to his dazzling debut in the 10-1 win against Exeter City at the weekend. Despite this, he looked more than comfortable with the team’s trademark, patient build-up play.

It was in the second-half that the winger truly shone. His 53rd minute finish may not have been anything spectacular but it was clinical. It’s this sort of clinical finishing that has been so-often called for by fans since the departures of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane over the years.

Living up to the standards set by the two of them may be a tall ask but the early signs are undeniably promising. Semenyo was incredibly unlucky to have not been awarded a second goal just nine minutes later. He produced a brilliant finish with a deft backheel flick from a corner only to have it ruled out by a six minute long VAR check for offside interference.

Controversial VAR check aside, it was yet another moment in which the 26-year-old showed exactly why City acted fast to secure his signature ahead of anyone else. The Ghaniaan winger wasn’t done there; he combined brilliantly with Ait-Nouri and Cherki in the build-up for the second goal.

With such impressive link-up play, it would be fair to say that he already looks more than at home in this City side. After scoring twice and providing an assist in his first two appearances, City fans have more than enough reason to be extremely excited about what Semenyo can bring to the table going forward.

4. Alleyne showing he belongs

It came as a surprise to many when the club reacted to the injuries of Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias by recalling 20-year-old Max Alleyne from a season-long loan at Watford.

Since then, Alleyne has started the last three games, even picking up his first goal in the FA Cup curtain-raiser against Exeter. In each of the previous matches, he’s looked remarkably comfortable in the backline despite having been rather thrown in at the deep end. However, the 2-0 win against Newcastle took that to another level.

Only Abdukodir Khusanov completed more passes (58) than Alleyne’s 54; likewise only Khusanov (76) had more touches for City than Alleyne’s 75. The young centre-back also created one chance as well 12 passes into the final third.

Add in two blocks, three interceptions and four recoveries – it’s clear to see just how well Alleyne has taken his chance in the Manchester City first-team. Perhaps most impressive was the setting. St James’ Park is a notoriously difficult place to play and to deliver such a composed performance in a high-stakes semi-final away from home is no small feat.

If this display is anything to go by, Alleyne looks very much here to stay at the Etihad Stadium.

5. City deliver when it matters

The victory in Tyneside extended Guardiola’s unbeaten run to 13 matches. After three consecutive Premier League draws, it would have been easy for doubts to creep in among supporters but performances like this underline why City are never truly out of the title picture.

With Newcastle having emerged victorious the last time these sides met – and with recent frustration surrounding City’s form – a similar outcome might have felt possible. Instead, Guardiola’s side delivered a disciplined, resilient display in a hostile environment, showcasing the qualities that have defined their success for so many years.

With another leg still to play, City return to the Etihad Stadium as firm favourites to book their place at Wembley on March 22. They also carry renewed confidence into Saturday’s Manchester derby, confidence that may prove crucial if the Blues are to mount a serious Premier League title challenge.

Tuesday night served as a timely reminder of why this team remains one of the most formidable in world football.