Optimism, pride, sadness - these are just some of the mix of emotions Warren Barton experienced in watching his beloved Newcastle United fall to defeat in the Carabao Cup final. The ex-Magpies full-back joined fellow club legends and former team-mates John Beresford, Steve Harper, Rob Lee, Nobby Solano and Alan Shearer in the stands at Wembley as Eddie Howe's side were once again denied by Manchester United.
Newcastle made a fast start to the contest, but the damage was done in the space of a decisive seven-minute spell before the break. It was a familiar scoreline for a Magpies' cup final at Wembley, but there is a widespread acceptance that the Toon Army will not have to wait another 24 years before their next weekend away in the capital.
Barton told ChronicleLive: "There were lots of positives from the game. I'm gutted we didn't win, but this is the beginning. We're not going to wait 20-odd years to get there again.
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"With the ownership, the manager and the club the way it is going, it's on the up. Talking to lots of fans at the game, they were all optimistic and remember where we were 15 or 16 months ago. There are things to look forward to."
The Red Devils arrived at Wembley as the Premier League's in-form side, and just three days on from dispatching Barcelona in the Europa League. Fresh from a week off to prepare, Newcastle perhaps unsurprisingly took control of the opening stages of the final.
Back from suspension, Bruno Guimaraes was running the show for the Magpies who would remarkably go on to finish the final with 62% possession despite defeat. But it was the Brazilian who was penalised for a foul on Marcus Rashford which would lead to Casemiro's opening goal, and from there Newcastle were punished by clinical and experienced opponents.
Reflecting on the match itself, Barton said: "It was important to start the game well. We started well, and Bruno was doing well. But that's what they can do to you as a top team, that's where we've got to learn from that.
"We can't start well and switch off for a couple of minutes, that's it. We did it against Man United in '99 and Arsenal in '98, you have to learn from our mistakes. I thought the effort was there, the togetherness, the spirit, I wouldn't say any of the goals were down to Karius. I thought he did well.
"We just couldn't get that little final pass, that bit of composure that they had when they got the second goal. It's just key moments in a game when you're playing top teams with a lot of experience through our team. We haven't got that in our team at that level.
"We were always chasing the game because they got that lead, they always looked a threat with the pace. We went toe-to-toe for the majority of the game. Overall, we gave them a good game but they took their key moments and we didn't. That is the difference in big games."
Alexander Isak was introduced at half-time as the onus was placed upon Newcastle to force their way back into the match. Howe's side registered 15 shots on goal, but only two of these were on target as they struggled for find a way through the Red Devils' rearguard.
Casemiro was named man-of-the-match as he led Manchester United's efforts to kill the game, and was later supported by the introduction of Scott McTominay and Marcel Sabitzer. Newcastle lacked invention and the options from the bench to change the course of the match, and Barton feels a player to 'open up a door' has to be a priority in the next transfer window.
The Fox Sports pundit said: "It's experience, it's knowing these moments. That half a second in a game is a long time, the top players realise that with the weight of the pass, when to cross the ball, when to make that tackle. We'll get that with experience, and we need to have a player who can open up a door further up the field.
"We have Bruno who is an excellent player and we all love him, but we'd love to see him further up the field. Whether that's maybe a holding midfield player, a Declan Rice to allow Bruno up the field, or to get another similar player to push on. We need more depth too, you look at what they brought on.
"Jadon Sancho is a £73 million player, I'm not saying we have to break the bank and no disrespect to the players there, but that's the next level. It's easier to get up there, it's harder to stay up there and break that mound.
"That's where you need that next-level player who's used to playing in the Champions League for five or six years, they're the players you need. Eddie knows that, the club knows that, that's the next avenue we've got to go after."
With 15 matches remaining, Newcastle can not afford to dwell on the defeat as they bid to re-ignite their unlikely top-four push. Things do not get any easier with a trip to defending champions Manchester City next on the agenda, and Barton reckons the coming weeks may be the time for Howe to rotate and refresh his starting eleven.
Asked how Howe will manage the team in the wake of the defeat, the former defender said: "The first days are going to be tough. The next game is Manchester City so if you're not up for that game, you're going to get embarrassed.
"That's their motivation, what they don't want to do is let the season fade away now. I don't think that will happen at home or away. He'll take stock and refocus, he's got the players running through a wall for him. Now, he's got to keep them believing in what they're doing.
"It might be time to freshen up a little bit, a lot of players have played a lot of games and minutes, particularly with the way we play. So it might be now the time to use the whole squad, if it doesn't work for an hour then change it. You've got to keep them hungry.
"If the players don't realise what they're playing for after what they've seen in Trafalgar Square and at Wembley, they shouldn't be at the club. I think they do, they won't let the season fade away.
"Let's be blunt as well, they're playing for their futures because everyone knows in the summer, they're looking to bring people in. You either want to be on this train or you can get off, it's as simple as that. Eddie is very good at man-management, he's got to understand where they are, let the defeat soak in and try and turn that into positivity."
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