Eddie Howe's 'no illusions' warning as Newcastle United facing dangerous test


Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has underlined the importance of the Magpies' Carabao Cup trip to Wimbledon.

Progress to round four is vital for Newcastle as they focus on the domestic competitions this season but after losing in such a lacklustre manner against Fulham, Howe wants a response from his players in their second visit to the capital in just four days. Newcastle made it to the quarter-finals of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup last term and with no European action on the menu, many fans deem this competition as the best chance of a trophy.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Plough Lane, Howe told Chronicle Live: "Wimbledon is a massive game for us. We are under no illusions on that.

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"It is a competition we want to do well in. But we want to build momentum in our season. First and foremost we want to produce a really good performance. So we know the onus is on us to deliver in this game."

It's been more than 24 years since Newcastle faced Wimbledon with the last clash between the Magpies and the Dons ending in a 2-0 win for the men in blue during the Sir Bobby Robson era. Since then Wimbledon have been on an incredible journey after a controversial franchise switch to Milton Keynes before the club decided to start from scratch.

Wimbledon played their way up from grassroots football and marched back up the pyramid into the EFL. However, this will be the first time Newcastle have played the club under the AFC Wimbledon title.

As Newcastle were losing to Fulham, the Dons picked up a point at Bradford City in a 0-0 draw in League Two. Manager Johnnie Jackson now can't wait to take on United.

Jackson said on the Wimbledon website: "It’s exciting! I can’t wait for that. For us as a staff to pit our wits against Premier League opposition. For the players - what a test!

"Whoever they pick, they’re going to be top quality players. It’ll be brilliant for my lads to see that up close, to taste that and hopefully overcome them.

"The supporters will get to see a Premier League team down at our place again and hopefully we can have another one of those special Plough Lane nights, like we had against Ipswich recently. We have to believe. It can happen in football. Certainly, with the way that we’re playing and performing, that gives us hope that we can pull it off again."