Just before kick-off, a sad message came for the black and white supporters. Alexander Isak was – as was rumored yesterday – not selected in the match squad.
Coach Eddie Howe explained why.
– It sounds worse than it is, but he has broken his toe. “It’s something that can be managed and that he can play with, provided the pain level is okay, and it won’t have any negative effect in the long term,” he said, according to the BBC.
With that break, Newcastle stepped out at St James’ Park. The opposition was league leader and reigning champion Manchester City, who in turn have to do without long-term injured star Rodri.
In the home team, Sandro Tonali was there right from the start and the start of the match was marked by black and white intensity and energy. With just over half an hour played, however, the cold shower came.
Jack Grealish advanced on the left wing and served Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian swung in and angled in 1-0 into the far corner with his right foot.
– It’s probably the first time Grealish and Guardiol have done better than Trippier and (Jacob) Murphy on that edge, says former Liverpool player Stewart Downing in the BBC.
In the dying seconds of the half, Newcastle came agonizingly close to equalizing – but Joelinton’s finish was expertly saved by Ederson. 1-0 stood at the break.
Ten minutes into the second, Anthony Gordon burst forward and was brought down by Ederson. The 23-year-old took care of the penalty himself – and surely made it 1-1.
– Nice penalty by Gordon. He was rewarded in the end for continuing to take those runs in the deep, said Downing in the BBC.
Newcastle, with the crowd at their backs, thoroughly troubled City. Among other things, Sean Longstaff had a chance to make it 2-1, but the shot went narrowly wide along the hill.
In the final seconds, it was instead the visitors who sniffed a 2-1 goal – not least via a smoker by Bernardo Silva – but there was no three-pointer for City. The match ended 1-1.
– The applause Newcastle get from the fans shows how much they liked what they saw. Newcastle can probably be the happy party here, says Downing in the BBC.
– This is probably Newcastle’s best performance this season. Looks like they’re back on track. Getting something against City is good. It opens up the top a bit, says former England defender Martin Keown according to the BBC.
Startelvor:
Newcastle: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Tonali; Gordon, Murphy, Barnes
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Lewis, Gundogan; Silva, Haaland, Grealish