Newcastle United's prospects in the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Liverpool have been dealt a significant blow following their disappointing performance in the FA Cup fifth round against Brighton & Hove Albion. The match, held at Newcastle's home ground, saw them fall 2-1 to their visitors, leaving the team with little momentum as they prepare for the final showdown on March 16 at Wembley Stadium.
In a dramatic turn of events late in the game, Newcastle's Anthony Gordon received a red card for violent conduct. The incident occurred in the 87th minute when Gordon caught Brighton's Jan Paul van Hecke in the face during a tussle for the ball. Referee Anthony Taylor deemed it necessary to send Gordon off, much to the player's astonishment. As a result, Gordon now faces a three-match ban that excludes him from participating in the Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle's manager, Eddie Howe, expressed his intention to review the incident closely.
"Of course. If we analyse the incident and feel there's grounds for that, we will do without hesitation," Eddie Howe stated.
The match began with Newcastle taking an early lead through Alexander Isak, who successfully converted a penalty in the 22nd minute after Yankuba Minteh was fouled by Tino Livramento. However, Minteh quickly turned the tables by equalizing for Brighton just before halftime. The tension escalated when Fabian Schar appeared to have secured victory for Newcastle with a stunning free-kick, only for VAR to rule it offside.
Brighton's Danny Welbeck capitalized on Newcastle's misfortunes by scoring the winning goal in extra time, sealing Newcastle's defeat and further dampening their spirits ahead of their anticipated clash with Liverpool.
Despite the setback, Eddie Howe remained cautiously optimistic about Gordon's situation.
"I'd need to see it, I can't sit here and give an honest opinion to that until I've done the work that you've done and looked at it. But, knowing the player, I know there's no malice intended there," he remarked.
With Gordon's suspension looming over the team, Newcastle faces an uphill battle to regain their form and focus for the Carabao Cup final. The absence of one of their key players adds pressure on Howe's side as they seek to overcome their recent struggles and secure a victory at Wembley.
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