'Probably' - David Moyes honest about Newcastle United's performance after Everton defeat
Newcastle United exited the Carabao Cup after a 3-1 defeat to Premier League counterparts Everton.
David Moyes has said Everton treated their Carabao Cup last-16 tie against Newcastle United like a Premier League match.
And it was an approach that worked for Moyes’ side after emerging 3-1 winners at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. James Garner, Hayden Hackney and Thierno Barry scored for the Toffees before Dan Burn scored a consolation late on.
Both managers fielded strong XIs, with Moyes making just two changes from the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal, while Matthias Jaissle made just the single change from the 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
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“I thought it was a tough game,” Moyes said. “Newcastle had moments in the game, but I think the Premier League is a bit like this at the moment.
“I think the games are quite close. You could be defending for 20 minutes and then you might be better for another 20 minutes. I think the games are very tight.
“Obviously we got goals at good times, certainly the third goal sort of killed the game off at that time when Newcastle were probably better at the start of the second half.
“But look, really pleased to get through. I think when you talk about cup games, you can talk about how you play, what you would like, what you want to do better, but ultimately the only thing that really matters is getting the result if you want to get through.”
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The draw for the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup was made prior to the game, so both sides knew a favourable trip to League Two side Fleetwood Town awaited them.
But Moyes insists that was not part of his pre-match team talk, instead telling his players to focus on beating a fellow Premier League opposition after losing their last two against Chelsea and Arsenal.
“Well, I didn't phrase it in that way and I didn't say it at the players' end about that at all,” Moyes said.
“I think that we had to focus on, I mean this was a big Premier League game really and trying to win a Premier League game against any team is not easy.”
Newcastle and Everton meet again in the Premier League on Monday night at St James’ Park.