Magpies Won't Sit Back on 2-0 Lead

Howe tells them to 'attack the game' against Gunners in League Cup semi-final, second leg

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The last thing that Eddie Howe would want on Feb 5 is for his Newcastle United side to throw away a two-goal lead in their League Cup semi-final tie against Arsenal.

Boasting a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, the Magpies will welcome the Gunners to St James' Park in hopes of another victory - or a draw - to move a step closer to ending their 70-year trophy drought.

Howe knows all too well that his players must show up, and not repeat the same mistakes from the 2-1 English Premier League defeat by Fulham at the weekend, where they gave up a 1-0 lead.

"We have to perform, we have to be ourselves, that is the challenge for us," the Newcastle manager said on Feb 4.

"Focusing too much on the scoreline (from the first leg) and the dynamics of that is no good. We just have to attack the game. My message is, we are at the halfway point in the tie, the game is still very much alive.

"We have to approach the game in a really positive and aggressive way. We are in a good position and need to make the most of every opportunity."