Newcastle thrashed 4-0 at St James’ Park to title favourites Manchester City after being denied a stonewall penalty in first half. 

The loss sees Howe’s side remain in 19th position with the worst defensive record in the league, having shipped another four at home to City taking their goals away total to 41 for the season. The Magpies remain three points from safety.

Manchester City were deserved winners and took the lead inside five minutes when Ruben Dias nodded in from close range. It was two in the 27th minute when Joao Cancelo smashed a long range effort into the top left corner after dribbling through the Newcastle midfield unchallenged.

One of the biggest moments in the game came when Man City goalkeeper Ederson and right-back Cancelo had a misunderstanding, with the Brazilian ‘keeper rushing out of his net but not reaching the ball.

Cancelo eventually cleared before Ederson, who was out of control, clearly collided with winger Ryan Fraser and knocked him flying. Absolute stonewall penalty and no surprises that VAR failed to intervene yet again.

City went in to the interval at 2-0 and turned it up a notch in the second half as the home side chased shadows and couldn’t lay a glove on the opposition.

The visitors got their third twenty minutes into the second period when Oleksander Zinchenko curled a sublime cross into the path of Mahrez who volleyed first-time into the Newcastle net. The linesman had his flag up but replays showed that Algerian timed his run perfectly and VAR confirmed the goal.

It was then a question of if City wanted more and they finished the game off in style as Jesus glided passed Murphy on the Newcastle right before squaring the ball to Raheem Sterling who tapped in from a yard out, making it 4-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The game featured the two richest clubs in the league but the difference of class on the pitch was there for all to see. In the first game at SJP since the removal of the Sports Direct signs but unfortunately nothing changed on the pitch as Newcastle were second best yet again – to be expected on this occasion.

After an energetic opening couple of minutes where the home side pressed the current Champions, City took the lead.

Following a poor corner, the ball was recycled on the right, where Zinchenko played a lobbed ball over the defence towards the touchline. Cancelo did well to keep it in and put an inviting cross into the middle of the box.

In typical Newcastle fashion, there was another display of woeful defending at the back when ‘keeper Dubravka and Ciaran Clark failed to clear the ball before letting it bounce. It was latched upon by centre-back Diaz who took the invitation of a bouncing ball and reacted first to head in from close range.

The home side reacted well to the going a goal down and nearly equalised when Joelinton, who was fantastic once again, found himself free on the edge of the box before firing a shot inches wide of the left post. However, the hope was cut short moments later.

Joao Cancelo received the ball on the City right, before dribbling inside passed the tackles of two Newcastle midfielders and smashing a superb finish into the top left corner – chants of “that’s why we’re champions” echoed around SJP.

Newcastle had a great chance just before the break when Joelinton played a splitting throughball into the feet of Callum Wilson who failed to pull the trigger before becoming quickly outnumbered by light blue shirts.

Predictably, City made it three on 63 minutes and sealed their 8th win in a row.

The away side countered clinically after the hosts lost the ball high up the field. The ball made its way to the left where Zinchenko, picked out an impressive cross into onrushing Mahrez who gently placed his finish passed the diving Dubravka.

The visitors finished it off in style as Jesus skilfully dribbled passed Jacob Murphy on the Newcastle right before squaring it to Raheem Sterling who tapped in from a yard out – a quality goal to finish it off.

Pepe’s side extended their league at the top to four points following the victory as Newcastle remain trapped in the relegation zone with Norwich having a game in hand and Burnley three – worrying times for the Magpies.

Howe will have been pleased with his teams endeavour and efforts but the difference in class was far too much on the day. Joelinton lit up SJP at times as his gritty performance with glimpses of Brazilian flair got fans on their feet.

Newcastle did press City into making mistakes and the visitors struggled at times but the second half performance took all sting out of the affair.

A comfortable 4-0 win in the end for the Blues who deservedly sit top of the Premier League for another week running.

Manchester United are the next visitors to Tyneside on the 27th and the Magpies will be hoping to get an unlikely result to help bolster their chances of survival heading into the January transfer window.

City prepare for the visit of Leicester City to the Etihad on Boxing Day and will be expecting to get another three points to extend their winning run to nine.

PLAYER RATINGS

Dubravka (6), Clark (5), Lascelles (5), Ritchie (6), Murphy (6), Hayden (7), Willock (6), Joelinton (8), Fraser (6), Almiron (6), Wilson (5).

Subs: Saint-Maximin (6), Longstaff (5)

MANAGERS COMMENTS

Newcastle Manager Eddie Howe:

“We shot ourselves in the foot. It was a big frustration. If there’s one team in world football you don’t want to chase the game against it’s Manchester City and to do it so early made our task doubly difficult. I thought the rest of the first half, bar their second goal, was a really disciplined performance. We really minimised their goalmouth action. They were relatively quiet although they scored two goals that sounds like a contradiction. We looked a threat and should have had a penalty.

“I’m not the type of manager that looks for excuses or looks to blame the officials but it’s another clear big moment in the game that has gone against us. I’m shaking my head at it. The goalkeeper is out of control, he’s wiped Ryan Fraser out. It’s a stonewall penalty. How VAR hasn’t intervened is a really strange one for me.”

He added:

“I think there’s been one in every game. At that stage we were well in the match and you don’t know what can happen beyond that point.”

Newcastle Manager Pep Guardiola:

“It was a good result but not a good performance. The first half was one of the poorest we have had this season. We were not there. We didn’t play in the rhythm we should play. Everyone gave more touches and lost the ball. We were lucky to score in the first few minutes. It was a misunderstanding from the Newcastle defenders and the second goal is a brilliant action from Cancelo – that made the difference.”

He added:

“The second half was much closer to who we are. We have to try and improve. We have an obligation to play every single game at the highest level possible. I don’t have a reason why we don’t play good every time.”

On the penalty incident: “Fraser didn’t have the ball. The ball was with Cancelo. If Fraser has the ball it’s a clear penalty but Cancelo had the ball so it’s not a penalty.”

Post-match thoughts?

How good was it to see the signs gone? What did you think of the penalty incident? Can Howe’s side get an unexpected result against Man Utd? Can Newcastle avoid relegation?

Join in the conversation and have your say…