With Newcastle and Manchester City both smarting from late defeats against fierce rivals on Sunday, there is little danger of either club not giving high priority to this League Cup fourth-round tie on Wednesday.
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City's calamitous loss at Chelsea - their third Premier League away defeat of the season - has left them six places and points off the top of the table.
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Their sumptuous display in a 4-0 win over Newcastle on the opening weekend is already a distant memory, even if manager Manuel Pellegrini maintains his side are playing well.
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The exception, of course, is in defence, where Joe Hart's loss of form and the unsettling absence of captain Vincent Kompany are proving costly.
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Pellegrini felt Manchester City were unlucky to lose at Chelsea, a sentiment echoed by Newcastle manager Alan Pardew about his side following the Wear-Tyne defeat by Sunderland.
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Pardew insists the League Cup is a priority for his side this season, viewing it as a realistic opportunity to win silverware. City have loftier ambitions than the League Cup, but the importance of Wednesday's tie in the wake of recent away results will not be lost on them.