‘I just don’t get that rule’ – Howe on Newcastle’s defeat to Man City and Murphy’s injury

Eddie Howe was left frustrated after Newcastle conceded a goal with ten men on the pitch after Jacob Ramsey had to go off following a head injury.

The Magpies were beaten 2-0 in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester City .

But there was controversy when Ramsey suffered a head injury and had to wait to come back onto the pitch, with the rules dictating that a player must leave the pitch after receiving treatment from the physios.

And during that wait, City took the lead through Antoine Semenyo.

“I just don’t get that rule,” Howe said. “JJ has gone down with a head injury after getting elbowed in the head and we get punished for that. I don’t see that that’s right.”

Reflecting on the defeat, Howe believes the scoreline was harsh on his side.

“I think it was a tough defeat on us tonight because I thought the lads really did give everything today and I thought we had the chances to make that scoreline very different, if we could have got that first goal,” he said.

“Really disappointed to lose 2-0. I think 1-0, there’s obviously a very different feel about it and we needed to defend better in that last minute of the game.”

Jacob Murphy was forced off through injury during the game but Howe does not think it is a serious problem.

“We don’t think Jacob’s injury is serious but of course we’re waiting to see the full extent.

“He’s had a hamstring problem for a couple of weeks. He’s had two scans that have come back clear so we’re not quite sure what’s going on with him.”