Newcastle vs Manchester City Review
Manchester City faced frustration against a spirited Newcastle, who recovered from last weekend’s loss to secure a 1-1 draw and maintain their unbeaten streak at home in the league, now at 11 matches. Newcastle thrived in the lively atmosphere of St. James’ Park, showcasing some strong early performances, particularly from set-pieces.
Jack Grealish, who had yet to score in 2024, nearly scored an own goal while defending a corner for Newcastle. Additionally, the absence of Rodri due to a season-ending injury from City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal left them occasionally overwhelmed in midfield by returning players Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães. Nevertheless, City has only lost once in their last 33 encounters with Newcastle, so it seemed inevitable that they would eventually find their rhythm.
In the first half, Erling Haaland displayed significant physicality, but a fantastic interception by Kieran Trippier prevented him from converting Bernardo Silva’s low cross. This served as a warning, and the first goal came from a clever run by Grealish, who assisted Joško Gvardiol. Gvardiol cut inside and found the far corner with his shot. Shortly after, İlkay Gündoğan missed an opportunity to capitalize on a mistake by Nick Pope as he sought a second goal. Just before halftime, Joelinton turned and forced a quick save from Ederson.
This chance energized Eddie Howe’s team for the second half, and they quickly earned a penalty when Ederson fouled Anthony Gordon, who had been set up by Guimarães. Newcastle’s makeshift striker took the penalty himself and scored, leading to a period of dominance where City appeared vulnerable at the back, notably when Ederson denied Harvey Barnes in a one-on-one situation.
Sean Longstaff and Silva both had shots on target that could have added excitement to the match, but neither team was able to create a decisive opportunity to secure a victory. While Newcastle’s impressive unbeaten streak at home is notable, it pales in comparison to City’s remarkable 28-match unbeaten run in the Premier League across all venues. However, Pep Guardiola is aware that if they continue to drop points in consecutive matches, they risk losing out on the top position.