Newcastle 2-3 Man City: Heartbreak at St James' as Toon run out of steam
Newcastle’s first Premier League home game of 2024 ended in heartbreak after a scintillating game of twists and turns saw Manchester City score a stoppage time winner.
Silva sent the visitors ahead after 26 minutes but a quickfire double from Isak and Gordon 10 minutes before half-time sent the Geordies into the break ahead. De Bruyne levelled with 16 minutes left to play and substitute Bobb restored City’s lead in the 92nd minute.
Defeat for Eddie Howe’s Mags sees them slip to tenth in the league with eight defeats in the last 10 games in all competitions.
The first half was equal parts pulsating and frustrating with controversy woven through the opening 25 minutes.
Newcastle thought they had an opener within two minutes after Isak squared the ball to Longstaff, but it was ruled offside. Longstaff had clashed with Ederson and the Brazilian keeper had to be withdrawn through injury with City feeling aggrieved at the fact that the injury was inflicted during a move that was offside.
City got the first goal of the game after Walker found himself in space on the right wing and fired a low ball in which was flicked into the far corner of the net by Silva. Trippier and Burn both made their feelings known about the goal as Gordon had seemingly been fouled by Dias in the build up.
But St James’ was soon in full celebratory voice 10 minutes later as Bruno played a sublime ball over to Isak who still had a lot to do when he jinked the ball onto his right foot and curled the ball past Ortega.
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A mere two minutes later Newcastle were ahead as Gordon was sent through on the left by Burn. He cut in onto his right on the left hand side of the box and swept a brilliant finish into the far corner.
De Bruyne’s entrance to the game after the hour mark showed City’s resolve to get back into the game and he had the ball in the back of the net five minutes after coming on, gliding the ball into the bottom corner from around 25 yards out.
City’s pressure in the latter stages made for a tense end to the game as the Toon struggled to get the ball towards the Gallowgate. City kept recycling the ball and just after the amount of added time was signalled by the fourth official De Bruyne sent Bobb one-on-one who shimmied the ball around Dubravka to break Geordie hearts.
A lack of options from the bench meant that Newcastle inevitably ran out of steam in the closing stages and Howe will hope that the recovery time of those on the treatment table will speed up. Where we lacked options to impact the game and save tired legs, they were able to bring on arguably the world's best midfielder, who made the difference in the end.
Newcastle head into the winter break without a win in the league this calendar year and travel to Fulham in the FA Cup next on January 27.
STARTING 11: Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Miley – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
SUBS: Karius, Gillespie, Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Krafth, Hall, A Murphy, Parkinson.
