Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall has instructed Gianluigi Donnarumma to keep quiet after the Magpies withstood pressure at St James’ Park. The world’s top goalkeeper was furious that Harvey Barnes’ winning goal at Gallowgate End had been left unattended. As Tindall was celebrating in the technical area, Manchester City’s Donnarumma lunged from in front of goal to confront him, but Eddie Howe’s substitute silenced him.
Emotions ran high after the game, with Pep Guardiola clearly angry and even exchanging words with Tindall. Tackles were flying and Harvey Barnes’ goal was just the beginning, with Newcastle resembling the team that stormed back into the Champions League last season. Despite all the chatter about the manager being under intense scrutiny, 50,000 Geordies made their feelings known by loudly chanting the duo’s names on a November night. It was an important win and Newcastle prepare for next week’s trip to Marseille with confidence.
City hit back in the first minute with Phil Foden setting up Erling Haaland after Barnes fired for Donnarumma after a frightening pass from the Italian keeper. However, after going one-on-one with Nick Pope, he wasted his chance horribly, much to the delight of the Gallowgate faithful.
In the 6th minute, Haaland won a corner kick that was eventually spilled to Rayan Cherki, but his shot hit Nick Pope. Twelve minutes into the game, Jacob Murphy fed in a great cross for Nick Woltemade, but his powerful header was parried away by the former Paris Saint-Germain star.
Moments later, Lewis Hall was tripped from behind by Ruben Diaz, but referee Sam Barot overruled the minor protest. England’s Foden believed he was going to score after 17 minutes, but Fabian Schaal intervened with a well-timed shot.
Despite VAR review, the referee upheld the original decision, much to City’s dismay. Newcastle then survived a handball appeal inside the penalty area and another VAR check after Malick Thiaw stroked the ball with his arm. However, the game ended the first half scoreless.
Waltemade tried to break through in the 25th minute, but Donnarumma again made a solid save. But the man considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world should have taken the ball out of the net at the half-hour mark.
On this occasion, Murphy sent a cross from the right to the back post, but Barnes completely misjudged it. He didn’t score, but just when it looked like he could easily find the back of the net in the Leeds end, he collapsed in a heap.
Ten minutes before half-time, Pope made a close-range save from Nico O’Reilly’s cut-back to deny Haaland a goal. Pep Guardiola was visibly frustrated as Foden missed a close-range shot after receiving a pass from Cherki, and both teams squandered a big chance.
Both teams missed many chances in the first half, and the score remained tied until halftime. Waltemaid was rejected by Donnarumma at another key moment, Gallowgate End.
The game became dicey for Newcastle, who were wary of a potential City counterattack, as Foden and Haaland continued to waste chances. But in the 63rd minute, United capitalized on their central attack and the crowd roared.
Bruno advanced into the final third and pushed the ball towards Barnes, who this time did not flinch. Burns, still feeling the effects of his earlier missed chances, confidently steered the ball past the keeper from 18 yards out.
After O’Reilly lost the ball in midfield, Bruno and Barnes played a nice one-two, culminating in the winger’s goal. However, the celebrations did not last long, lasting only four minutes before City retaliated as Newcastle were unable to clear their front line.
Bernardo Silva’s cross was partially cleared by Lewis Hall, but Ruben Diaz forced the ball through Schall’s legs and into the goal. With 20 minutes remaining, Voltemede’s header crossed the goal, but Burns scored again after Bruno headed it home.
Barnes calmly slotted the ball over the line and, after a tense VAR check to check for possible offside, the goal was confirmed, much to Newcastle’s delight. With the team trailing 2-1, Guardiola made a bold decision and replaced Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki and Bernardo Silva with Oscar Bobb, Savignho and Tijani Lijnders.
After Burns walked off to a standing ovation, Newcastle brought on Joe Willock and Anthony Elanga in the final stages of the game, with Willock replaced by a visibly exhausted Woltemade.
Man City replaced Foden in the closing stages with £59m substitute Omar Marmouche. However, they were unable to find another equalizer and the Magpies continued to snatch the vital three points. The question for Newcastle fans is why can’t we have performances like this every week?
