Newcastle pegged back Manchester City to draw 1-1 at St James’ Park on Saturday as reigning champs City dropped more points.
Josko Gvardiol gave City the lead in the first half but Anthony Gordon’s second half penalty kick levelled things up and both teams had chances to win it late on.
In the end Rodri-less City had to settle for a draw, as Pep Guardiola cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines despite his side stretching their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 29 games, just one short of a club record.
Newcastle have 11 points from their first six games of the season, while City have 14 after two-straight draws ended their perfect start. They’re still unbeaten but cracks are showing as City chase five-straight titles.
City fail to close it out with Rodri’s physicality missing
After City took the lead just before half time they clicked into a composed gear and aside from Joelinton’s snapshot which Ederson saved they looked very comfortable. That was until just before the hour mark, then they lost control as Newcastle bullied them with physicality all over the pitch and it took its toll. Joelinton (who ran the show in the second half with his physicality causing so many problems) was allowed too much time and space to slot through Gordon in a central area and Ederson brought him down to give away the penalty kick which led to City coughing up two points. Late on Newcastle had a big chance to win it through Sean Longstaff who was in acres of space when he scuffed a cutback wide and in both of those instances you asked yourself: would that have happened if Rodri was sitting in front of the back four? City are of course going to miss the best holding midfielder in the world right now. This performance proved how much.
The ACL injury Rodri suffered against Arsenal has ruled him out for the rest of the season and sent a seismic shock through this City side. Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic are superb on the ball and can mop up extremely well. But they are not Rodri. Nobody is. His imposing stature and physical nature has helped City close out so many close games like this over the last few years. His absence is going to be felt for the rest of the season and at Newcastle we got a glimpse, if we needed it, as to just how important he is to their defensive unit and keeping control of the game. It is no coincidence that City lost the physical battle against Arsenal after Rodri departed through injury and against Newcastle throughout, as they’ve dropped four points since he suffered that season-ending knee injury. It may sound simplistic, but Guardiola needs more physicality in midfield and one of Nunes, Akanji or Stones may have to slot into the Rodri role for the rest of the season.
Newcastle vs Manchester City player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see City’s defensive unit, Ederson aside, had a strong outing, while Grealish and Gvardiol combined really well down the left. Gordon was a real threat up top in a central role and it was a really smart decision from Eddie Howe to give City the problem of his pace in central areas.
What’s next?
Newcastle head to Everton on Saturday, October 5. Man City host Fulham on the same day.
How to watch Newcastle vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 7:30am ET Saturday
Venue: St. James’ Park
TV Channel: USA Network
Streaming: Stream online via NBC.com
Newcastle vs Manchester City final score: 1-1
Gordon 58'; Gvardiol 35’
Newcastle vs Manchester City live updates - By Joe Prince-Wright
Full time: Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City
That was a cracking game. Newcastle had chances to win it, and so did Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola and Co. leave St James’ Park frustrated after a poor second half display cost them two points.
Haaland heads at Pope
A cross comes in but there isn’t much pace on it and Haaland heads it straight at Pope. He’s really frustrated with himself.
Pope makes a superb save to deny Bernardo
Bernardo Silva smashes a shot on goal which Pope does really well to push over.
Newcastle are doing more than hanging on
City are seeing plenty of the ball. Newcastle are dropping deeper but have gone close as Longstaff scuffed a shot wide.
Grealish and Tonali booked
After a scuffle between Tonali and Grealish, who have been going at it for the entire game, both players are booked and the home fans are loving it. Grealish, and City, are rattled.
Joelinton goes down in the box under a challenge from Walker
Newcastle are flying now. A ball to the back post finds Joelinton and he goes down under a challenge from Kyle Walker. No penalty given, as VAR has a look and confirms that is the correct call. Walker is lucky to get away with that...
Penalty to Newcastle... and Gordon slams home! - Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City
Playing through the center, Anthony Gordon is played in, bends his run perfectly and Ederson comes flying out. There is a slight touch from Ederson and Gordon goes down. Ederson booked and Newcastle have the chance to equalize. Gordon gets up and sends Ederson the wrong way as he slams home. Newcastle are level and Man City’s back four gave them a gift there as they were too square and caught out by one ball.
PENALTY TO NEWCASTLE. 🚨
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) September 28, 2024
Anthony Gordon is brought down by Ederson in the box and scores from the spot to level it at 1-1!
📺 USA Network | #NEWMCI pic.twitter.com/tOHGMlPxv8
Tempers are flaring as Tonali goes down under an elbow from Grealish
VAR has a check for Grealish pushing Tonali, as the Italian midfielder went down. No punishment for Grealish, as he elbowed Tonali rather meekly. In the meantime Haaland’s shot is blocked out for a corner but Tonali clears. Newcastle hanging on here.
City seeing plenty of the ball early in the second half
Business as usual early in the second half as Gundogan, Silva and Grealish are buzzing around and City are dominating possession. Newcastle are waiting for their moment to pounce on the counter but they’re being a little too passive at the moment.
Joelinton denied by Ederson right on half time - Newcastle 0-1 Man City
Newcastle almost equalize right on half time. Joelinton smashes on goal but it’s straight at his compatriot Ederson who saves superbly with a reaction stop. City clear the resulting corner and the half time whistle goes. City are ahead but Newcastle are well in this.
Gvardiol curls home the opener - Newcastle 0-1 Manchester City
Grealish beats his man and finds Gvardiol, who cuts inside and curls home into the far corner. City are ahead and that is real quality.
Very even game, even if Ederson is making it interesting…
There isn’t much going on but that’s because individual scraps all over the pitch are pretty much even. Newcastle are taking a leaf out of Arsenal’s book and being pretty physical. City are taking plenty of whacks. On the flip side, Ederson gets away with a risky bit of play. Pep Guardiola doesn’t look best pleased. Ederson looks as calm as ever. Because of course he does.
Akanji’s shot deflects wide
City are finally in the game and Grealish is seeing lots of the ball. He cuts it back to Akanji and his low shot deflects wide for a corner.
Lively start from the hosts
Gordon slides in and catches Gvardiol and Newcastle are pressing high and playing direct. City are struggling to get out of their own half.
Newcastle lineup
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Gordon, Barnes
Manchester City lineup
Ederson; Walker, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol; Lewis, Kovacic; Silva, Gundogan, Grealish; Haaland
Newcastle United focus, team news
Eddie Howe’s struggled to put his best midfield together, with many clamoring to see more of Sandro Tonali. Bruno Guimaraes has not been at his best, while Alexander Isak was not at 100% last weekend and looked it.
OUT: Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Lewis Miley (ankle), Callum Wilson (back) | QUESTIONABLE: Matt Targett (back), Alexander Isak (toe)
Manchester City focus, team news
City were able to rest most of its key players against Watford, and there’s every reason to think they’ll be able to fire forward at a hostile ground. Their Champions League trip to Slovan Bratislava next Tuesday won’t be a major deterrent to Pep putting out his best team.
OUT: Rodri (knee - out for season), Oscar Bobb (lower leg), Nathan Ake (thigh), Kevin De Bruyne (groin)
Newcastle vs Manchester City preview
City are coming off consecutive home draws to Inter Milan and Arsenal, and sent a much-changed team out to eliminate Watford from the League Cup at midweek. Now they’re off to the northeast for a scrap with the Magpies.
Newcastle have traditionally been a handful for visitors to St. James’ in recent seasons, including their last three meetings with the champions. The Magpies drew City 3-3 in an early 2022-23 Premier League match, then knocked Pep Guardiola’s men out of the 2023-24 League Cup before losing a 3-2 thriller in league play last January.
Newcastle vs Manchester City prediction
Newcastle need to show a spirit missing from most of their matches this season, but visits from Manchester City get the best efforts out of many clubs. The Magpies have often been a team that rises up for big games despite recent performances. Close? Maybe. But also.... Newcastle 1-3 Man City.
