Carabao Cup final: Stuart Pearce predicts winner between Man Utd, Newcastle

Former Manchester City manager, Stuart Pearce has predicted Newcastle United to beat Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final later this month.

Newcastle and Man United overcame their opponents in the Carabao Cup semi-finals of the competition this week.

The Magpies defeated Southampton 3-1 on aggregate, while the Red Devils beat Nottingham Forest 5-0 over two legs.

Both teams will face off in the tournament’s showpiece event at Wembley on February 26 in what will be Newcastle’s first cup final since 1999.

However, Pearce – who played 52 times for Newcastle from 1997-99, believes Eddie Howe’s men have what it takes to cause an upset against Man United.

“I have got a sneaky suspicion Newcastle will win it [Carabao Cup],” Pearce told talkSPORT.

“They are four or five years ahead of schedule. Last year people were saying the money was coming in, and they could be threatening the [Premier League] top six.

“You were thinking, “Yeah, yeah yeah – I have heard this all before” but it is incredible what they have done this year.”