Newcastle 2 Man City 3
Eddie Howe’s side welcomed Man City to St James’ Park boasting the third best home record in the Premier League, with only Liverpool and Aston Villa having better. Newcastle were looking to avoid two consecutive home defeats for the first time under their manager.
The game got off to the perfect start as it seemed Longstaff had given them an early lead but the celebrations were cancelled as the assistant raised his flag for offside as soon as the ball hit the back of the net. Replays showed that Isak was just off in the build-up, but it was a close call.
The major problem for Man City was that goalkeeper Ederson got injured as the Newcastle midfielder and his own defender collided with him in the incident. Pep Guardiola was raging with it taking so long for the linesman to raise his flag to make a decision.
We see this all too often in the league now with many saying that players could get unnecessarily injured with the delayed decisions and it came home to roost here. On the plus side for PGMOL it gives Howard Webb another five minutes in the spotlight for him to still feel relevant in society.
Credit: @ManCity
Gordon then received the ball and knocked it down the line trying to beat Dias for pace. The two had a coming together on the touchline and The Magpies’ winger went down like a car had hit him. The referee was not interested in awarding a foul and play continued.
Man City rubbed salt into the wound as Walker crossed from the right and Bernardo Silva allowed the ball to go in between his legs before flicking it into the far corner. It was a sublime finish by the Portuguese playmaker.
The hosts surrounded the referee and complained about the foul on Gordon but it was not going to change anything and even so, it was debatable whether it happened in the same phase of play as the Man City goal. Fine margins.
Pep Guardiola’s side almost doubled their lead when Silva struck a shot from the penalty spot but Dubravka did well to claw it onto the post. After dominating possession, and the game, for the first 35 minutes it was no more than City deserved.
However, it seemed to rile up Newcastle and the tempo increased for Eddie Howe’s side. A brilliant pass from Guimaraes, inside his own half, found Isak bearing down on goal. He cut onto his right foot and bent a shot into the far corner to draw the hosts level.
St James’ Park erupted and it seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors. Gordon then broke down the left, cut onto his right foot and followed suit. His effort went into the far corner when it seemed a shot wasn’t even on.
Credit: @premierleague
It highlights something for Man City, as good as he is going forward, Kyle Walker is no longer a top defender. Both goals came from his side when he should have done better. Defensively, he is proving as reliable as his wife has found him of late.
Howe’s side were looking dangerous on the counter-attack and should have doubled their lead before the break. Miley slotted a lovely pass in behind the defence and as Isak got in front of Dias, with the defender unable to touch him, he struck his shot straight at Ortega in the City’ goal.
Kyle Walker continued to torment Dan Burn in the final third into the second half. He got to the byline again with his pace, as Dubravka committed himself, he found Foden in front of goal. Some brilliant defending by Guimaraes was all that stopped the visitors from scoring.
Then came the moment that all Man City’s opponents had been fearing. A fit again Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench to try and change things. He immediately took a free kick that Rodri had won on the edge of the box, but his effort went straight into the wall.
Alvarez had a brilliant chance to equalise but somehow sent his effort sailing over the bar, when he had seemed certain to score. These are the moments where Pep Guardiola wonders when his tall, blonde Norwegian temptress will be fit again.
Rodri found De Bruyne drifting in between the Newcastle lines, and as he headed towards the hosts’ box, he side-footed a shot into the bottom corner. The Belgian midfielder announced his return to the Premier League in his usual classy style.
The Magpies were under the cosh now and hoping to hold on for a point. Rodri looked to try and find the winner with a shot into the bottom corner but Dubravka got down to make a smart save. You kind of felt he would need to show some of his recent form from Anfield if they were to stand a chance.
As the game headed into added time, De Bruyne’s class showed again as he clipped a ball over the defence, into the path of Oscar Bobb. He showed great feet as he rounded Dubravka and slotted home. The away end went crazy as they stole a very late win.
Defeat will have hurt Newcastle, more so in the dramatic late fashion that unfolded. For Man City, this is the kind of win that can act as a catalyst to the rest of your season. Guardiola’s side now sit only two points behind leaders Liverpool.
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