PEP GUARDIOLA asked the fans for a helping hand – and got an unlikely one from Nick Pope instead.
Pope has been one of the real stars of the show in the Saudi-backed rebuild, and last season no-one conceded fewer goals than the Toon keeper.
But in this clash he was anything but a hero, when he failed to get off the ground and flapped a hand at the Julian Alvarez drive which sealed the champions’ win.
Manager Guardiola had feared the worst for his weary warriors, on the back of their exhausting midweek Super Cup exploits in the searing Athens heat.
Hence his pleas for the Etihad supporters to drive his troops over the line. He should send a special thank you to Pope as well, because for an international keeper it was poor.
Thank Heavens, then, for the driving force that is Phil Foden, and the eye-for-a-goal of Alvarez.
Although had the Toon made the most of their late possession, they would have left here with at least a point.
How City missed their crocked inspiration Kevin De Bruyne. It will be a long five months without the Belgian, believe me.
At least they had enough left in the energy tank to make sure their first home game ended in another celebration. They are becoming something of the norm at the Etihad nowadays.
And when City began like a side intent on staging their own version of keep-ball, you wouldn’t have staked much on it being anything other than party central yet again.
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True, there wasn’t the cutting edge of some displays. As we saw when Alvarez trod on the ball to KO one thrust, and Haaland miscontrolled to wreck another.
You always felt, though, that it was only a matter of time before the champions picked the lock. That’s what they always do, after all.
And sure enough, little over half an hour in, bosh, there it was. City one up, Newcastle heads down and a case of “here we go again.”
How ironic, too, that for all their ability to slice through the most stonewall and solid of backlines, the Toon all but ushered this one into their own net.
The outstanding Foden fed Alvarez in the box, left in far too much space than a World Cup winning striker should be allowed.
He took a touch and arrowed an angled drive to Pope’s right…and the keeper’s efforts to save can only be called disappointing at best.
It was a boot in the backside that would have seen plenty of black and white sides of old crumble. The 2023 oil-fuelled version, though, is different.
These days there is a belief and, perhaps even more importantly, a backbone about Newcastle.
A confidence that even when things aren’t going to plan, even when they aren’t producing the flowing, fluent football manager Howe demands, they will find a way.
They have a spirit, a sense of the streetwise, a savvy-ness…and on occasions a spite. Just ask Ruben Dias.
Twice he was on the receiving end of late and, in the one instance at least, ludicrous snaps from Anthony Gordon.
To be honest Newcastle’s Scouse winger was lucky only to see yellow for the first, leaving a late foot in on the City centre back.
When he produced another only slightly less naughty ten minutes after the break – a challenge that referee Rob Jones frankly bottled out of punishing – Howe gave him the hook.
Not that sub Harvey Barnes failed to fill his boots, mind. Within two minutes he was in the book as well for hauling back Kyle Walker.
Yet they were still only a goal down. They were still in touching distance. They could still head home with something.
Certainly with City – and, amazingly, Erling Haaland in particular – for once not finding a laser-guided route to goal.
Twice Haaland had a clear sight, and twice he failed to make proper contact as he dragged left footed strikes wide.
Then a magnificent last-ditch sliding challenge from Fabian Schar denied him, just as the Striking Viking saw the whites of the Newcastle goal.
When Haaland did finally get a decent strike in, with his right foot, Pope came up with a stonewall block with his and another chance went begging.
And as each opening came and went, so the tension grew amongst home fans and hope rose with the visiting ones.
It should really have come to something when Rodri, of all people, gave the ball away and the Toon had an advantage in numbers as they broke.
Yet Barnes chose to shoot with others screaming for a pass, Ederson dropped to his left to save, and the opportunity passed.
It was to be the last genuine sight of the City goal Newcastle managed, for all nerves were frayed almost to breaking point by the final whistle.
For the Toon it was definitely a chance missed. For City another glimpse of why they are champions.
Far from at their best, but still too good for a side with dreams of nicking their crown. No chance…
That’s all from us!
Thank you as always for reading with us, we look forward to seeing you again next time.
If you still haven’t got your footballing fix, you can catch more top stories from us here.
Have a lovely night!
Up next: Manchester City
The next four fixtures look a lot easier for Manchester City than they do for Newcastle.
Newcomers Sheffield United are up next, before Fulham, who were comprehensively beaten by Brentford today…
Up next: Newcastle United
This is how the next four games look for Newcastle United.
Not easy at all.
Liverpool at home is next, followed by current league leaders Brighton and then Brentford, who are also unbeaten so far…
Man of the match
There were a number of good performers from Manchester City today, and a few from Newcastle as well.
Ruben Dias was rock solid at the back, Rodri too in front of him, and Julian Alvarez scored a screamer.
Fabian Schar did excellently to keep Erling Haaland quiet, but there was nothing Newcastle could do to stop Phil Foden tonight.
And that is who our SunSport man of the match award goes to.
The young Englishman was excellent in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne, and it is some compliment to say that it didn’t look as though Man City even missed their Belgian maestro.
Who would you give the man of the match award to?
Full-time match stats:
Manchester City were dominant tonight, but the scoreline may not reflect that…
They had 60% possession, and 14 shots to Newcastle’s 7.
The match stats may give you a better depiction of how the game played out, and we have them for you below…
The full-time match stats between Manchester City and Newcastle United Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
FT. The referee blows the full-time whistle, and that is all she wrote for this game.
It was fiercely competitive, and a great spectacle to watch from start to finish.
Stay with us here for post-match analysis, match stats, our man of the match, and more…
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
90+3. Manchester City look like they are just going to see this one out here, and we expect them to be taking all three points.
Phil Foden is given the man of the match award, and what a game he has had.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
90. There will be five minutes of added time at the end of the second half.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
89. Phil Foden perhaps misses the chance to find Kyle Walker, who is making a brilliant overlapping run on the right-hand side.
Maybe the first time he has put a foot wrong in this game, he has been sublime.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
87. A change for Newcastle here, and new boy Tino Livramento is coming on for Miguel Almiron.
He is a former young Chelsea player of the year, so there is no denying his quality.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
85. Lovely midfield play from Manchester City here, as they work the ball between Foden, Rodri, Kovacic and Grealish.
It is one touch football, a la Barcelona 12/13.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
82. Newcastle try to play the ball out of the back, but Rodri is on hand to intercept.
It hasn’t been the Spaniards finest game tonight, but he has still been top class.
One of the world’s best.
Rodri has been top class in midfield for Manchester CityCredit: Reuters Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
80. Bruno Guimaraes tops the charts so far for distance covered, with 10.1km in this game.
The next four players after him are ALL Manchester City players…
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
78. Manchester City escape with Rodri, but his ball is cut out once again by Dan Burn.
Every time City look for the final ball into Haaland there seems to be a Newcastle player on hand to intercept.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
76. The free-kick is easily headed away by Newcastle after it was delivered into the box by Foden.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
74. A foul by Kieran Trippier, as he catches Jack Grealish late.
It hasn’t been an easy ride for the Manchester City Englishman tonight, but he stands over a free-kick here.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
72. Bruno Guimaraes is booked for a hefty foul on Phil Foden.
That takes it up to five bookings for Newcastle in this one now.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
70. Rodri gives the ball away in the middle of the park once again tonight, and Callum Wilson makes a bit of a mess of a 2 on 1 situation.
He works the ball into Harvey Barnes, who lashes a shot from distance, but it is easily saved by Ederson.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
68. Changes for Newcastle…
Callum Wilson comes on for Alexander Isak, and Elliot Anderson comes on in place of Sandro Tonali.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
66. Haaland forces a save from Pope!
It is great work AGAIN from Phil Foden, who has been sensational tonight.
He finds Haaland on his right foot this time, but Pope saves it with his feet.
It feels like it’s coming…
Erling Haaland has missed a few chances in a matter of minutesCredit: Reuters Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
64. So close for Erling Haaland!
Foden does brilliantly once again to find Erling Haaland, but he scuffs his shot wide.
Maybe it is not going to be his night?
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
62. Gvardiol loses the ball on the left-hand side of defence.
It has been a fairly unnoticeable performance form the Croatian today, but perhaps that is testament to how good he has been?
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
60. Harvey Barnes picks up a yellow card for a foul on Kyle Walker.
Foden does really well to pick out Erling Haaland, but Fabian Schar puts in a great tackle on the big striker.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
58. Rodri looks for an incisive ball into Erling Haaland, but he fails to find him.
The big Norweigan has failed to impact the game too much so far, but we know it only takes him one chance.
Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United
56. Two changes for Newcastle…
Eddie Howe is going to do the sensible thing here, and replace Anthony Gordon with Harvey Barnes.
Local man Sean Longstaff is also coming on for Joelinton in midfield.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
