Sky Blue has always meant a dark day for Eddie Howe but here, finally, was a rainbow, and just when he needed it most. At the 19th attempt in the Premier League, this was his first victory over Manchester City.
The Newcastle boss gave a knowing grin when reminded of that record before the game – but his smile was as wide as the Tyne come full-time. After back-to-back defeats by West Ham and Brentford and much soul-searching during the international break, this was an evening to warm his soul.
Tyneside has been battered by a sub-zero storm all week, but Pep Guardiola and his players ran headlong into the Beast from the North-East in the form of Howe’s heroes, rejuvenated and unrecognisable from the side who were sliding towards the bottom three earlier this month. There’ll be talk of the top four again after this. For City, Champions League qualification is perhaps their best hope for this season too, given Arsenal will go seven points clear of them if they beat Tottenham on Sunday.
Guardiola said: ‘I’m not disappointed. We gave everything. It is not an easy place to come after an international break, but there is a long, long way to go.’
City more than contributed to an engrossing contest bursting with incident and three goals inside six minutes, but the game found its rightful winners – and in Bruno Guimaraes, the best player on the pitch was rewarded with the outcome his gladiatorial performance deserved.
Not that it was his name ringing out come the end. Top of the hit parade, once Howe had been serenaded, was Harvey Barnes, the two-goal match-winner. Never would we have thought that at half-time. Not after Barnes had spurned a pair of glorious chances and the narrative seemed set for a tale of woe and regret, with the winger its villain.
At the 19th attempt in the Premier League, this was Howe’s first victory over Manchester City
The visitors more than contributed to an intriguing encounter bursting with incident
Newcastle, though, came out for the second half motivated still further and led on 64 minutes when Guimaraes bulldozed his way through midfield and teed up Barnes, who guided into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Fittingly, it was his hardest chance of the night.
City were soon level when Ruben Dias smashed through bodies after the ball dropped kindly amid the aftermath of a corner. Parity, though, lasted just 90 seconds, even if it took four minutes of VAR debate to award what proved to be the winner.
Guimaraes headed against the crossbar from two yards out, stretching to connect with Nick Woltemade’s far-post return, and Barnes reacted quickest to hook in. The Brazilian looked offside but, after much deliberation, his boots were deemed one size inside the green line.
That we have reached this point and not mentioned Erling Haaland, who remains on 99 Premier League goals, says much for the efforts of Malick Thiaw in Newcastle’s backline. City’s formidable striker met his match in the German.
‘The heart, energy and athleticism was there from all of our players,’ said Howe. ‘A lot came together and I’m delighted for the players. We want to try and build momentum and confidence in our season. You’re looking for turning points (and this could be one).’
That this game got through the first 45 minutes without a goal was a mystery – and Barnes will never know how he missed the easiest chance of the half. He must have thought he would not get one as good as the opportunity that presented itself inside 30 seconds, when he shot tamely at Gianluigi Donnarumma after a kicking error by the City goalkeeper.
But half an hour later, with the goal unguarded, he somehow crashed Jacob Murphy’s skidding cross into the hoardings. It was no advertisement for a finisher normally so assured.
By now, St James’ Park was fizzing – it had been fretting half an hour earlier. The noise on kick-off was not one of ale-induced optimism. Rather, it felt as if the extra couple of hours in the pub were used to calm the nerves, especially as the league table relayed on screens at 5pm had Newcastle one point above the bottom three.
Erling Haaland, who remains on 99 Premier League goals, was kept quiet by Malick Thiaw
The hosts emerged for the second half motivated still further and they led on 64 minutes when Guimaraes forced his way through midfield and teed up Barnes, who guided into the corner
Such anxiety resurfaced when Newcastle were fortunate to escape the concession of a penalty in the 17th minute. Jeremy Doku slipped Phil Foden clear on goal and, anticipating the sliding challenge of Fabian Schar, the City midfielder hastily stabbed his shot into the low rows.
But it was too late for Schar to divert and he sent Foden into a tailspin. It looked like a penalty in real time and on replays. Not so in Stockley Park. City were still seething from that non-award when another VAR check denied them a penalty for a Thaiw handball, this time with valid reason.
There were other City chances – Haaland clear and spooning wide, the Norwegian denied by Nick Pope’s chest after a snap shot from close range and Foden steering beyond the post from eight yards after a crafty exchange with Rayan Cherki.
Had one of those gone in it may have been another dark day for Howe against Guardiola. Instead, Newcastle and their head coach emerged from this wild night feeling as if a cloud had finally lifted.
