Manchester City returned to the scene of where they came unstuck last season, hoping for a different result on this bitterly cold day.
There was a chill in the air at St James’ Park as three Manchester City players took to wearing gloves and short sleeves in a demonstration of being nesh. That was the only surprise though in the opening exchanges as City searched for a chance without quite finding the perfect ball or movement, and Newcastle threatened to catch us on the break.
Benjamin Mendy was back on the left and despite looking industrious, his preoccupation with hitting crosses without regard to who may in the box, rendered his contribution empty. Kyle Walker marked his return to the side with some clearer positional play, coming into the middle at every opportunity.
The surprise on the team sheet was Rodrigo being dropped to the bench and Ilkay Gundogan starting instead. Whilst this reduced the gap between our defence and midfield, it served also to slow down some of our attacking play, making it easier for Newcastle to check back.
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City spurned a couple of half chances, a flick was cleared and a few headers from corners flew over. So far this season we have scored from one corner despite having about 150, and this does not look like improving anytime soon.
Raheem Sterling opened the scoring on 22 minutes, seizing onto a loose ball and striking home. It was a well taken goal and for a second or two City looked as though they could kick on. City however seemed determined to concede and a piece of poor defending allowed Newcastle to equalise within 4 minutes.
The goal served to liven up the home crowd, who encouraged Newcastle to press on. Whilst Newcastle did not have any great quality, any side can be organised and pressure the ball, which is what they did. To find a way through, City needed some inspiration and improved clinical precision in their passing, which by all accounts was lacking.
The second half started in much the same way. City attacked but without intensity or even intent. Newcastle launched counter attacks at our shaky defence. John Stones left Fernandinho exposed and he had to accept a yellow card for preventing the danger.
All of Jesus’ best work was with his back to the ball. No City players seemed to want to run. The performance was in danger of being even more insipid than against Shakhtar.
City had two good chances in quick succession. Jesus shot straight at the keeper when clean through on goal and De Bruyne failed to place the follow up, allowing the ball to be deflected for a corner. In a desperate attempt for some urgency, Guardiola withdrew Mahrez and Silva for Bernardo and Phil Foden.
Despite the change in personnel, the same problems afflicted the team. Bernardo wasted a clear chance and the turgid display continued. Just when it needed a moment of brilliance, up stepped De Bruyne with a goal of the season contender.
He thumped the ball from outside the area on the half volley and the ball hit the underside of the cross bar, bouncing over the goal line and in. A beautiful goal, worthy of winning any match but for that to happen, City had to defend.
And we all know how that goes. Within minutes City had conceded again after leaving Jonjo Shelvey with a free hit from the edge of the area. Fernandinho had given away a free kick and was lucky to avoid a second yellow card, but the free kick saw the ball passed to Shelvey and he took his chance well.
City did have a glorious opportunity to win it but Sterling did not place his shot well enough and the game, and possibly the title petered out.
Generally speaking, you get the results you deserve and City did not do enough to take all three points. A couple of well taken goals should not obscure what was another poor performance. This level of performance has infected too many recent games and can no longer be considered a blip.
The biggest disappointment is not the results, but the manner in which we have given up the ghost of a chance that we had. We have a couple of days to prepare for what was already looking like a difficult game away at Burnley. It looks like the team need our support more than ever now. We go again.