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Newcastle vs Manchester City: Match report, player ratings, fan reaction & more

Sunday’s late Premier League kick-off saw Manchester City face a trip to Newcastle.


Manchester City headed into the game having enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign, picking up wins over West Ham and Bournemouth whilst not conceding a single goal.

As for Newcastle, they beat Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend and drew 0-0 with Brighton last time out.

So, a tightly contested affair was expected. But when all was said and done at St James’ Park, a high-scoring clash that has the potential to be one of the games of the season played out.

Manchester City took the lead after just five minutes via Ilkay Gundogan.

After the goal, though, Newcastle took the game to City, who were all over the place defensively. The Magpies got their reward 28 minutes in after a VAR check thanks to Miguel Almiron poking in a Saint-Maximin cross.

Newcastle kept the pressure on City after their equaliser and added a second 38 minutes in, this time via Callum Wilson.

The second half followed much of the same pattern, with City having chances and Newcastle then countering. And the North East outfit added a third 53 minutes in via a free-kick.

City eventually responded an hour in as Erling Haaland stabbed in a loose ball in the Newcastle box.

The Sky Blues then made it 3-3 after 64 minutes after Kevin Be Bruyne played a sublime pass into Bernardo Silva.

City went on to dominate the rest of the game but could not find a winner.

Newcastle player ratings

Nick Pope (7.5) – Made countless quality saves throughout the match.

Kieran Trippier (6.5) – Poor tracking of Gundogan for the first goal. Superb free-kick for Newcastle’s third. Lucky not to be sent off for a lunge on KDB.

Fabian Schar (5) – Struggled to deal with Haaland.

Sven Botman (5) – Was not great at tracking Haaland.

Dan Burn (5) – Had a tough time marking Bernardo Silva.

Joe Willock (5) – A decent showing but his tracking of De Bruyne wasn’t great. Off after 70 minutes.

Bruno Guimaraes (5.5) – Passing was decent but nothing to write home about.

Joelinton (7) – Could have closed Silva down quicker before his assist for Gundogan. Was excellent apart from that.

Miguel Almiron (7) – Poked in the Newcastle equaliser and made a few more good runs that caused City issues.

Callum Wilson (6.5) – Great first touch and then finish for his goal.

Allan Saint-Maximin (9) – Caused Kyle Walker issues throughout the match and was unlucky he did not score 22 minutes in. Got the assist for the Newcastle equaliser and for their second goal. Was unplayable at times.

Substitutes

Chris Wood (3) - Had little impact up top.

Sean Longstaff (3) - Struggled to deal with Man City’s midfield.

Jacob Murphy (N/A)

Matt Ritchie (N/A)

Emile Krafth (N/A)

Manchester City player ratings

Ederson (4) – Great save to deny Saint-Maximin. Questionable decision to run out of his box 37 minutes in which nearly handed Newcastle a second.

Kyle Walker (2) – Spent 90 minutes being run ragged by Saint-Maximin.

John Stones (3) – Really struggled to deal with ASM. Hard to see him maintaining his spot next week if Aymeric Laporte or Ake are fit.

Nathan Ake (5) – Made an excellent interception to deny a likely Newcastle goal after 13 minutes. Forced off a few minutes later due to injury.

Joao Cancelo (5) – Poor tracking of Almiron for his goal but made a good block to cover for Ederson who was miles off his line shortly after that.

Rodri (5) – Very sloppy opening to the game, giving the ball away several times. Got the assist for Haaland’s goal.

Ilkay Gundogan (5.5) – Clever run into the box for his goal.

Kevin De Bruyne (7) – His passing ability was on full show yet again, setting up Haaland who should have scored and Silva who did.

Bernardo Silva (7) – Excellent cross to set up Gundogan for the opener and scored City’s third.

Phil Foden (5) – Should have squared the ball to Haaland for a likely goal 15 minutes in.

Erling Haaland (6.5) – Nearly had an assist early on but Pope saved well vs KDB. Denied a goal by Pope 51 minutes in. Got his goal on the hour but missed a one on one just minutes later. Big miss after 76 minutes.

Substitutes

Ruben Dias (4) – Should have done better with the Saint-Maximin cross for Almiron’s goal and for the Wilson goal.

Fan reaction

Expert view

Josh Barker

Josh Barker

Middlesbrough fan from the North East of England. @JoshBarker979 on Twitter.


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