Harvey Barnes’ double gives Newcastle a contentious 2-1 victory over Manchester City, denting their title hopes and sparking Guardiola’s fury
NEWCASTLE United delivered a significant blow to Manchester City’s Premier League title ambitions with a controversial 2-1 victory at St James’ Park.
Harvey Barnes scored both goals for the Magpies in a match filled with contentious refereeing decisions.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was left furious after the final whistle, particularly over Newcastle’s winning goal.
The visitors had equalised through Ruben Dias just four minutes after Barnes opened the scoring in the 64th minute.
Newcastle’s second goal survived a lengthy VAR check for a potential offside against Bruno Guimaraes in the build-up.
Guardiola also believed City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was fouled during the sequence leading to Barnes’ winner.
The City boss confronted referee Sam Barrott on the pitch after full-time but later claimed “everything is fine” when questioned.
“It happened in the Bournemouth game and it happened today again,” Guardiola said with apparent sarcasm.
“They know perfectly. You see Donnarumma complain and that is because something wrong happened.”
City had a first-half penalty appeal rejected when Phil Foden went down under Fabian Schar’s challenge.
The defeat leaves Manchester City in third place, four points behind leaders Arsenal.
Erling Haaland failed to score for only the third time in 21 matches this season for club and country.
The Norwegian striker missed several chances to score his 100th league goal for City.
Newcastle’s victory marked just their second win in 36 Premier League meetings against Manchester City.
Eddie Howe secured his first top-flight victory over City in 19 attempts as manager.
Both teams were guilty of poor finishing throughout the match at St James’ Park.
Donnarumma nearly gifted Newcastle an early lead with a terrible pass that Barnes intercepted.
Haaland missed a clear opportunity moments later when he failed to chip over the advancing Nick Pope.
Foden produced arguably the worst miss of the first half, dragging wide from close range just before the interval.
Barnes made amends for his own earlier misses with a fine low drive from the edge of the area for the opener.
Dias equalised with a powerful strike that deflected in off Schar for his first league goal in four years.
The Portugal defender had previously scored his last league goal at St James’ Park in 2021.
Newcastle responded immediately when Guimaraes headed against the bar and Barnes volleyed home the rebound.
The Magpies ended a run of successive league defeats against West Ham and Brentford before the international break.
Manchester City had entered the match with momentum from a 3-0 victory over Liverpool.
Their fourth league defeat this season leaves their title challenge facing significant pressure. – AFP
