Newcastle draw level with Manchester City at St. James park with both squads being heavily impacted by injuries. Newcastle are missing star striker Isak due to a toe injury. City are also suffering with injuries, missing De Bruyne, Aké, and Rodri. Regardless of City’s extensive injury list within their midfield, the visitors were firm favourites to get the win at St. James Park. Akanji played in midfield alongside Kovacic and Lewis pressed forward to adjust the formation without midfielder Rodri.
First Half-
Newcastle put the pressure on with early forward attacks but seem to be stalling with chances on goal. Isak’s absence is evident with chances being missed that the injured striker would usually jump on.
Big Chance - Trippier attacks the goal from the right and fires a shot blocked by Grealish.
Trippier, who is wearing odd boots after a side-line change, easily outpacing Grealish on the right. Newcastle look comfortable in possession and attacking up the right.
Gvardiol’s foul throw in sums-up Manchester City’s sloppy form in the start of this first half. City look lost in their midfield, being easily dispossessed and struggling to get the ball up to Haaland.
Big Chance - City build up a good chance on goal with Silva finding Gundogan 20 yards out of the box, who slices the ball out wide.
Man City have built more momentum and a strike across goal from Silva is almost pushed in by Haaland who couldn’t quite get to the ball. Gundogan seems careless on the ball after receiving a good cross but sent it into the stands.
Injury - Haaland goes down after a nasty knock and struggles when back in the game. Pep looks nervous as City striker looks to the bench. Impact injury to his ankle with blood showing through his sock. Looks uncomfortable.
Goal - Grealish created the chance, passing to Gvardiol who shows off technical footwork in the box before converting.
Traffic is now all City at the end of the half, with the exception of a Joelinton shot saved by Ederson. German midfielder Gundogan is very clumsy on the ball, spoiling good crosses into the box.
Second Half-
Away fans are ecstatic to see Haaland return to the pitch after an injury scare, the Norwegian striker looks likely to see this game through after an early second half shot on goal.
VAR Check - Grealish elbows Tonali off the ball. the elbow caught Tonali in the chest with was minimal contact. No red.
Penalty - Gordon beats Akanji with a rapid attack stopped by contact from Ederson. Soft penalty but not overturned due to clear obstruction.
Goal - Gordon takes the penalty with Isak absent and finds the bottom corner.
Pep makes a change to his side, bringing on Foden for rusty midfielder Gundogan. City have pushed the flow of play back into their favour with a big chance from Foden. A volley at Pope following poor defending in the box by the home side.
A second big chance follows with Grealish firing a ball that finds Haaland on the back post, who heads it wide.
Newcastle make a triple substitution taking off Trippier, Tonali and Barnes.
City are pressing Newcastle but don’t look as dangerous as before with off target shots and a lack of their distinctive passing possession.
Big Chance - Silva volleys the ball at the goal in injury time. Pope makes a big save giving away the corner.
Haaland’s goal streak looks to be over with another header from the striker landing straight into Pope’s hands.
Man City created more chances in the game, but Newcastle proved to be the more technical side finding gaps in the field. My man of the match would have to be N. Pope who saved so many of City’s big chances on goal.
Newcastle 1 - 1 Man City
12:30 28th September 2024
St. James Park
Line-ups:
Newcastle XI:
Pope (22); Trippier (2), Schar (5), Burn (33), Hall (20); Tonali (8), Guimaraes (39), Joelinton (7); Murphy (23), Gordon (10), Barnes (11).
Substitutes:
Dúbravka (1), Kraft (17), Osula (18), Livramento (21), Almirón (24), Kelly (25), Willock (28), Longstaff (36), Murphy (37).
Man City XI:
Ederson (31); Walker (2), Dias (3), Akanji (25), Gvardiol (24); Lewis (82), Kovačić (8); Silva (20), Gündogan (19), Grealish (10); Haaland (9).
Substitutes:
Stones (5), Doku (11), Ortega (18), Savinio (26), Nunes (27), Carson (33), Foden (47), McAtee (87).
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