Newcastle 1 Manchester City 1 – Honours even, a fair result and this was my man of the match

The Mag

·28 de setembro de 2024

Newcastle 1 Manchester City 1 – Honours even, a fair result and this was my man of the match

Newcastle 1 Manchester City 1 – Saturday 28 September 12.30pm

A fairly even first half, with Grealish’s only positive contribution setting up a goal for Gvardiol. A slight deflection off Tonali wrongfooted Pope.

Vídeos OneFootball

Joelinton’s rasping shot tested Emerson and Murphy’s lung-bursting run down our left wing showed Walker is vulnerable but none of the half-chances we made came to anything.

Optimists could find promising signs in our energetic approach. Man City took an age over restarts, a tactic not reflected in the one minute of stoppage time. I would be bored watching this lot every week.

Ten minutes into the second half, Gordon was played through by Bruno and brought down as he tried to round Emerson. Our favourite Scouser smashed the penalty low to the keeper’s right, sending him the wrong way.

Man City were briefly rattled, with workie ticket Grealish keeping the ref busy.

Man City made the first substitution, Foden replacing Gundogan on 66 minutes. If only we could have brought on Barnes, who had been ineffective and off the pace.

Longstaff, Livramento and Willock came on for Tonali, Trippier and Barnes with less than a quarter of an hour of normal time remaining, as our pressing took its toll.

Man City had regained control but a cutback from Murphy found Longstaff, who pulled his shot wide of the far post. The game was there to be won and the visitors brought on Doku and Savinho, for Grealish and Lewis.

United were pushed back. A tired Joelinton lost possession several times, notably when set up by Murphy after another incisive break, but our big Brazilian kept battling, as did every player in black and white.

In stoppage time Pope made a good save from Bernardo Silva, similar to Emerson’s from Joelinton an hour earlier at the same end.

There was just enough time for Schar to take another blow to the head before the ref called a halt. Honours even and a fair outcome.

Man of the match: Anthony Gordon

Newcastle 1 Manchester City 1 – Saturday 28 September 12.30pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Gordon 58 pen

Man City:

Gvardiol 35

Possession was Newcastle 38% Man City 62%

Total shots were Newcastle 11 Man City 16