Newcastle United shock Manchester City at St. James’ Park

For the first time since 2005, Newcastle United defeated Manchester City in Premier League action.

Newcastle United faced the reigning Premier League champions this evening after their lacklustre exit from the FA cup at the weekend at the hands of Watford. With Manchester City in a fantastic run of form, very few gave Newcastle a chance against the league’s high scorers. With signings imminent, this turned into a magical night in front of 52,000 Geordies. Newcastle pulled off the greatest upset in recent years by coming from a goal behind, Newcastle awoke in the second half to stun the Champions and pull off a victory that could define the rest of their season.

First Half

Newcastle got off to the worst possible start. Raheem Sterling picked up the ball on the right hand side, before cutting in and floating a left footed cross to the back post. Neither DeAndre Yedlin or Martin Dubravka could deal with the ball. As Dubravka fell over David Silva, the ball bounced back into the box onto the head of Silva as he fell, leaving Sergio Aguero to fire in for Man City to lead 1-0 after just 24 seconds. It was the quickest goal of the Premier League season so far. Rafa Benitez cut a seriously frustrated figure on the touchline as he gestured wildly at his backroom staff.

Manchester City, spurred on by their early goal, attacked Newcastle’s defence for the next few minutes but apart from a few corners, Newcastle’s defence easily dealt with these. Newcastle began to grow into the game and in then 12th minute, Ayoze Perez stole the ball from Danilo, but dragged his shot wide of Ederson’s post.

Shortly after, Matt Ritchie had a shot blocked from outside the box. The most controversial point of the game so far came in the 16th minute where Kevin De Bruyne decided to take a free kick quickly, playing in Aguero who scored past Dubravka. The referee immediately ruled this out, before booking DeBruyne for taking the free-kick before the whistle was blown.

Throughout the rest of the half, Newcastle’s game plan of sitting back and counter attacking was working. Man City were limited to corners and shots from distance – rarely getting behind the Newcastle defence. But, Newcastle’s poor quality while in possession really let them down. At this stage, Newcastle had only made 104 passes and with a success rate of only 67%. A very poor DeAndre Yedlin being guilty of misplacing passes on multiple occasions. The game at this point had a distinct ‘Training ground’ feeling to it with the St. James’ Park crowd flat.

Newcastle’s defence, despite their lack of concentration for the goal, were solid throughout the rest of the half, with Newcastle looking dangerous on the counter attack. Despite Man City leading, and arguably could have been by another goal had it not been ruled out, Newcastle largely limited them to half chances with Fabian Schar and Florian Lejeune blocking a goal bound header in the 43rd minute.

Newcastle’s passing accuracy let them down significantly throughout the half, and would need to improve in the second half to raise a flat crowd. Newcastle went into the break at 0-1 with a lot of work to do against the champions.

Second Half

Man City came flying out of the blocks once more at the start of the second half, with a goal almost coming in a similar fashion to the first with a ball whipped into the box at pace, but Raheem Sterling being guilty of missing the ball completely.

A fantastic save by Dubravka in the 57th minute from David Silva kept Newcastle in the game once again as Man City continued to probe the Newcastle defence.

Controversy with Kevin DeBruyne reigned once more in the 60th minute, where a cynical challenge by the Man City midfielder on Matt Ritchie lead to a free kick. Roars from the Newcastle fans, and Rafa Benitez on the touchline, demanding a second yellow card – and ultimately a red card – fell on deaf ears. It looked like a marginal call, and on another day, the Man City midfielder may well have headed down the tunnel for an early bath. Pep Guardiola, obviously realising his midfielder was on the brink, substituted him for Bernardo Silva in the 65th minute to a chorus of boos from the Newcastle faithful.

However, soon after and out of the blue, Solomon Rondon came to Newcastle’s rescue in front of the Gallowgate end of the stadium. A floated cross from Matt Ritchie was poorly dealt with by Man City’s defence. The ball looped out to the edge of the box, with a well placed Isaac Hayden heading it back into the crowded 6 yard box. Rondon, along with Atsu, watched the ball float over their heads with Rondon shrugging off John Stones and smashing a shot as it fell beyond Ederson in the Man City goal. The Geordies around St James’ park were now bouncing in the stadium.

Newcastle were not out of the woods yet. Dubrakva collected a shot from Sergio Aguero in the 71st minute with the Man City striker off balance. Pep Guardiola made his second substitution in the 73rd minute with Gabriel Jesus replacing an under par Leroy Sane. It was in this same minute that Fabian Schar received a yellow card for a late challenge. Newcastle, despite their goal, had averaged only 10% possession over these last 10 minutes.

However, luck fortuned Newcastle soon after in the 76th minute as from a Newcastle break thanks to an improved DeAndre Yedlin, Fernandinho collected the ball in his own box. The Man City midfielder, under pressure and unaware of the onrushing Sean Longstaff behind him, took a poor touch allowing the Newcastle United youngster in front of him. Fernandinho immediately tripped Longstaff in his own box drawing a penalty as the Toon Army erupted.

After a brief break for some treatment for Ederson, Matt Ritchie cooly ran up and smashed his penalty beyond the Man City goalkeeper. You could see how much this meant to Ritchie and the Newcastle squad as they ran and celebrated. Newcastle now led 2-1 in front of the home crowd with 10 minutes to go.

Pep Guardiola went to his bench one final time in the 82nd minute after Fabian Schar gave away a dangerous free-kick just outside the Newcastle box. Ilkay Gundogan replacing a fading Danilo. The free kick was taken by Gundugan, but it was poor and bounced off the Newcastle wall. As Rondon attempted to clear, the ball bounced dangerously backward toward the Newcastle goal off another player, with the offside flag saving Newcastle, despite being taken in by Dubravka.

Christian Atsu was replaced by an off-form Kenedy in the 86th minute to hopefully see out the game. With Javier Maquillo joining the team on the pitch and with 5 minutes extra time, there were some heart in mouth moments as Newcastle’s defence held stern. As 52,000 fans sang Rafa Benitez’s name and Salomon Rondon being named man of the match, Newcastle saw out a victory over the Premier League Champions in what might go down as a famous night in Newcastle’s Premier League season.