Newcastle United vs Manchester City. Premier League.
St James' Park, NewcastleAttendance52,248.
Report as Anthony Gordon scores penalty past Ederson after being brought down by the goalkeeper in second half; Josko Gvardiol had scored during first half which saw Erling Haaland suffer ankle cut from Dan Burn challenge; City - without Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne - remain top of table
Saturday 28 September 2024 21:38, UK
Anthony Gordon won a controversial penalty and then scored from the spot to earn Newcastle a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at St James' Park to provide an early dent to the title favourites' Premier League bid.
"I don't think it's a penalty," said former referee Mike Dean on Soccer Saturday after seeing Gordon race through on goal and then hit the deck after Ederson slid at his feet and appeared to make slight contact with the forward.
Ederson was booked for "a genuine attempt to play the ball but [denying] an obvious goal-scoring opportunity", according to the officials, and Gordon - playing as a centre forward in the absence of injured pair Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson - sent the 'keeper the wrong way to level the match.
Sub Phil Foden had City's best chance to regain the lead but sent his shot from Erling Haaland's flick straight at Nick Pope. The Newcastle 'keeper was worked harder by a powerful shot from Bernardo Silva late on but this was a below-par display from Pep Guardiola's team.
City, playing for the first time in the Premier League since Rodri was ruled out for the season and still without Kevin De Bruyne, struggled to pick a way through Newcastle's deep defence but led at the break through Josko Gvardiol's opener. The left-back found the bottom corner from inside the box following good play from Jack Grealish in the build-up.
The England winger played a key role in City's late equaliser against 10-player Arsenal last weekend and showed he is returning to form with neat play here - although he later risked a red card when he lashed out at Sandro Tonali, who he had a running battle with.
There was concern during that first half that City would lose Haaland to injury after the striker was caught on the ankle by the studs of Dan Burn but he was able to continue despite a nasty cut. Injury-hit City - who only had eight players on their bench, including two goalkeepers - could ill afford to lose their front man too.
The defending champions have lost their last four Premier League games when they've been without both Rodri and De Bruyne from the start and while they ended that streak on Saturday they will leave the North East frustrated.
City's draw allowed Liverpool to take first spot in the Premier League table in Saturday's evening kick-off with a win at Wolves. Newcastle sit seventh, four points off the summit.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola:
"Guys, I'm going to tell you, I know you're going to ask me all the time - of course we're going to miss Rodri. Physicality, his presence... I know it but he's not here. I'm judging what [Mateo] Kovacic and Rico [Lewis] and Bernardo after [did in central midfield], how we have played. That was exceptional.
"I know if we don't do well it's because of Rodri [not being there]. I have to find a solution. We're going to find a solution. I would love Rodri to be here. But it is what it is.
"We had the chances to score, we should score. And in their stadium they can score. Apart from that I'm satisfied."
On Haaland: "He has some knocks here. But we will see in the next days."
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
In Man City's first Premier League game since Rodri's season-ending injury against Arsenal, there was intrigue into how Pep Guardiola would set up his side. The Spaniard was innovative as ever, with Manuel Akanji stepping out of defence to play alongside Mateo Kovacic when City had the ball. Rico Lewis pushed up to play alongside Ilkay Gundogan and form a box midfield.
Off the ball, there will have been disappointment Newcastle were able to play Anthony Gordon through to win the penalty on that one occasion in the second half but it was around the opposition box where Rodri's absence - and the additional blow of being without Kevin De Bruyne - was most keenly felt on Saturday. City struggled to pick a way through Newcastle's deep defence.
Kovacic topped the touches count - as Rodri so often does - and led the way for final-third passes, completing 93.3 per cent of those. On the left, Jack Grealish created five chances, including his assist for Josko Gvardiol. But City didn't play with the speed or swiftness in that area of that pitch required to carve out enough significant openings to grab a winner. There was a spark missing.
City recorded just one big chance created and an xG total of 0.87 - City's second-lowest tally of the season.
The absence of Rodri and De Bruyne was felt.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe:
"It was a really good performance from us. We committed, we were brave. Anthony Gordon epitomised that spirit and determination to be aggressive. I thought the work he got through was really impressive. Big, long-distance runs prove he is getting back to his best in terms of fitness levels. The team backed that up.
"That's our best display of the season, no doubt, with and without the ball. Really good signs for us."
On the penalty decision: "He's clipped, and going at that speed that's all it takes to go down."
