Newcastle United respond to Manchester City Carabao Cup draw ‘error’

Newcastle host City at St James’ Park on Wednesday, September 27 live on Sky Sports. City have won the Carabao Cup in six of the last 10 seasons and will be looking to end a three year drought this campaign.

The Magpies were incorrectly allocated ball number 20 for the draw. Ball numbers are allocated in alphabetical order with the exception of ties that were yet to be concluded when the numbers were allocated.

But Newcastle were listed behind Championship side Norwich City, who were allocated ball 19. Had the balls been allocated correctly in alphabetical order as intended, The Magpies would have been ball 19 and The Canaries ball 20.

That would have seen Norwich host Man City while Newcastle would face a trip to fellow Premier League side Fulham.

Newcastle were also named in the Champions League ‘group of death’ alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan.

Reflecting on the Carabao Cup draw, Howe said: “I’m not sure what to think really, you just laugh about it.

“There’s not a lot you can do, it’s just one of those weeks and one of those seasons for us where the start of the fixture list was very difficult and we’ve been tested.

“We’re playing a top team but I always think that makes you better anyway, playing against the elite teams brings your own game on so hopefully it’s a good thing for us at the start of the season.”

The EFL acknowledged the error but have denied any impact on the competition’s integrity, thus confirming the draw as valid.

An EFL spokesperson said via Express Sport: “The numbers for the Round Three draw of the Carabao Cup were allocated and communicated in advance of the draw taking place on Wednesday evening and were drawn in-line with the usual strict protocols and conditions.

“The League accepts that the list published was not in alphabetical order, however, under Cup rules, the draw does not require for numbers to be allocated on that basis as is demonstrated by those teams who progressed on Wednesday night.

“As a result, the EFL views the draw as completely valid with no impact to competition integrity.”