Let’s kick off with a well worn cliché, last night’s match was a game of two halves for Newcastle United as they faced off against the might of Manchester City.
In the first half in last night’s 8pm kick-off, Newcastle let Manchester City pretty much do as they pleased with the ball. Fortunately it was on a night where someone forgot to put the Nordic Cyborg on charge the night before so Erling Haaland missed a couple of chances and even mis-controlled the ball. A very off night for him.
Haaland’s sub-par performance probably saved Newcastle from a first-half pasting going in just 1-0 down at the break owing to a superb Julian Alvarez strike just after the half-hour mark.
Newcastle can still hold their heads up after last night’s result
After the break Newcastle came out with more intent and more of that intensity that they’ve become famous for under Eddie Howe, but still weren’t able to convert their possession into goals, or even meaningful chances.
It is what it is. Newcastle played the best club side on the planet at a ground where they’ve never won a Premier League game and came away with a 1-0 defeat rather than hefty battering as has been the norm for years.
MORE NEWCASTLE STORIES
While still a defeat it does show that Newcastle are progressing well under Eddie Howe and we’re close to a point where we can truly compete with the big boys.
Howe now needs to get the team fired up to hammer Liverpool
Eddie Howe was asked by NUFC TV after the game what changed in the second half and the gaffer said: “Mentality. Simple as that. I thought there was a change in focus and a change in energy. We were fearless, we were braver and we got our rewards for that. We were a lot more front-foot and won the ball back in dangerous areas but it just didn’t translate into anything meaningful.”
Howe made several changes to try and turn the tide of the game but it just wasn’t meant to be. To quote a previous gaffer: we dust ourselves down and we go again.
Hopefully Howe can get the players back to their best for Liverpool next week as I’d love nothing more than to embarrass them after Jurgen Klopp‘s many digs at Newcastle lately.