History is not on Newcastle United’s side.
No team has ever reached a League Cup final after losing the first leg of the semi-final by two or more goals at home.
Travel-sick Newcastle have also only ever won once at Etihad Stadium.
But Isaac Hayden is not ruling out his former side seizing “another chance to make history” against Manchester City on Wednesday – even if it is an almighty task for the holders.
“It’s obviously going to be difficult because it hasn’t been done before,” said the midfielder. “But it had not been done for 70 years when they won the Carabao Cup. So why not?”
Newcastle have upset the odds in the competition before to defeat Manchester City, who were managed by Manuel Pellegrini at the time.
Even former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was the first to admit it was a “very strange” win after his much-changed side stunned Yaya Toure, Fernandinho, David Silva and others with a 2-0 victory in 2014.
“We were really surprised with what we got,” he said. “It was terrific. I think Pellegrini was as surprised as we were.”
Pardew remains the only Newcastle manager to have ever triumphed at Etihad Stadium, but current head coach Eddie Howe said his side have to believe they have the players to “go to any stadium in the world to perform and score goals”.
Just like Newcastle’s second leg against Arsenal last season, when Howe’s team took a two-goal lead into the return fixture, the first strike will be crucial.
Newcastle opened the scoring that night – going on to defeat the Gunners 4-0 on aggregate – and the visitors are going to have to do so once again to even have a remote chance of getting back to Wembley.
“The start is so important there,” Pardew added. “If you get off at the wrong foot, it can be a very long night.”