Newcastle v Man City LIVE: Result and reaction after Anthony Gordon penalty earns Magpies point
Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City: Gordon converted from the spot as the champions suffered another set-back in their title pursuit
Manchester City were dealt another early blow to their Premier League title hopes as Newcastle secured an impressive home point at St James’ Park.
In the absence of influential midfielder Rodri, out for the season after suffering a serious knee injury against Arsenal, Pep Guardiola’s side lacked their usual calm, composure and creativity. Having taken the lead through Josko Gvardiol ten minutes before half time, the visitors struggled to create consistent chances.
Anthony Gordon equalised from the penalty spot after the forward, playing centrally with Alexander Isak injured, was felled by Ederson having burst beyond the Manchester City defence. Neither side could force a winner late on, with Nick Pope making a fine save from Bernardo Silva to secure a draw. A point apiece suits the hosts rather better than the champions, with Liverpool able to usurp Manchester City at the top of the table with victory at Wolves later.
Re-live all the action from the Premier League clash below:
Man City enter their post-Rodri era and the major problems have already begun
There are different ways of deducting points from Manchester City. Since Rodri limped off against Arsenal, with a season-ending cruciate ligament injury, they have dropped four. A 100 per cent start to the defence of their title has given way to back-to-back draws. Rodri famously never loses but the most pertinent part of his record may be how often he wins.
And City normally beat Newcastle United, just as Pep Guardiolainvariably triumphs against Eddie Howe. Not this time. Just Howe’s second point against his City counterpart was secured by Anthony Gordon’s penalty.
It is impossible to prove that the Spaniard would have stopped Bruno Guimaraes from supplying the defence-splitting pass that led to it, but tempting to wonder anyway. Rodri can appear omnipotent when present; the loss of the man Guardiola deems the world’s best in his position means many a shortcoming could be attributed to his absence.
Man City enter their post-Rodri era and the major problems have already begun
Newcastle 1-1 Man City: Pep Guardiola’s side were frustrated in the first league game since talisman Rodri’s long-term injury by a Magpies side who secured a well-deserved point with Anthony Gordon’s penalty
Eddie Howe is the last to speak to TNT, and he says that his team are “happy with a point”.
“You always want to win every game , but you have to respect the game [state].
“The performance was the main thing for us. We wanted to be ourselves.
“We played our way, and individually we were much better today.
“I thought Gordon did really well today. There were some brilliant moments. I was really pleased with him. Our midfield was really tested. It was really good.
He finishes by praising Pep Guardiola, calling him “an innovator”.
“He’s really good for the game, having him here makes the game better.
“Our goal is to try and get closer and closer to City – they’re the benchmark,” he adds.
FT: Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City
Pep Guardiola is speaking to TNT now. He starts by saying that “in general we played really good”.
“It’s so difficult. [Their] physicality, they defend so deep, and they defend so well. It’s what happens lately.
“We made a mistake, and after that they were better, but in the end we had the chances to win.
“We had the chances. Pope was brilliant with the saves, but we take the point.
“They played really well,” he adds.
Next up
Newcastle’s next match is a midweek Carabao Cup tie, in their re-arranged game against AFC Wimbledon. They then travel to Everton next weekend, in Saturday’s late kick-off.
City’s next match is a midweek Champions League game, away to Slovan Bratislava. They face Fulham at home on Saturday, with that match kicking off at 3pm.
FT: Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City
Anthony Gordon has been speaking to TNT Sports, and he says that he “could feel we’d have that reaction”.
“You could see everyone wasn’t happy. It was hard.
“You never want them to have any sort of advantage. We always felt like we’d get moments, and when we did we took them.
“I think it’s [fifth place] a good place to be consider we’ve been nowhere near what we can do. We’ve got so much more to give.
He finishes off by adding that a trophy is the club’s “priority”.
“That’s our priority. We have to play the same and hold our own standards.”
FT: Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City
That result keeps City top of the table for now – they lead Liverpool and Aston Villa by two points – with 14 – having obviously played a game more.
For Newcastle, the draw takes them up to fifth, though they are only three points behind City themselves.
FULL-TIME! Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City
So, a point each for Newcastle and City in the early kick-off. People will likely point to Rodri’s absence as the reason City dropped points, but credit to Newcastle for making life difficult for the away side and creating some great chances of their own.
City certainly didn’t look like themselves today, though they were by no means ‘bad’. It remains to be seen what the solution to Rodri’s injury is, but it doesn’t look like whatever was out there today.
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