Daniel Wales reports from St. James’ Park as Newcastle United defeated Manchester City 2-1, thanks to a second half brace from winger Harvey Barnes. The Magpies had missed several chances in the first half, with Man City also going close, before a ten minute second period spell saw the all three goals scored. Eddie Howe was happy with the opportunities his side created in their win, but stressed the importance of carrying that performance into upcoming away games.
00:00The perfect response from Newcastle United following the international break, as they put Pep Guardiola's Manchester City to the sword, thanks to a second-half brace from winger Harvey Barnes, to reignite the hopes and expectations of all of a black-and-white persuasion after poor recent results.
00:19Newcastle may have only scored two goals in the match, but they could have had several more, with Nick Valtemarra and Harvey Barnes missing a number of golden opportunities in the first period.
00:30Manchester City did have chances too, but no-one would have begrudged Newcastle if they had led at half-time.
00:36They didn't, though, and there was a concern that Manchester City would eventually punish the Magpies.
00:41However, when Harvey Barnes made up for his first-half misses, with a rifled effort into the bottom corner, it seemed like the Magpies may well be on course for a famous win.
00:52The joy, though, was cut short when Ruben Diaz equalised, but Harvey Barnes was soon on hand to restore Newcastle's lead, and give the vast majority of those inside of St James' Park an important victory to celebrate.
01:04To see how it came about, let's go back to the start of the match here on Tyneside.
01:09After Harvey Barnes had squandered a chance inside the first 30 seconds, Nick Valtemarra then saw ahead a save down low by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
01:20Barnes was then given a chance to make up for his earlier miss, but this time his effort went wide from point-blank range.
01:27The visitors also went close, first through Erling Haaland, before Phil Foden guided a shot wide when he seemed certain to score.
01:35It was Newcastle who made the breakthrough in the second half, though, with Barnes finally converting after good link-up play with Bruno Guimaraes in Manchester City's half.
01:44The celebrations were wild inside of St James' Park.
01:48But the Magpies' lead was short-lived, though, as Ruben Diaz squeezed the ball home after Newcastle failed to clear their lines from a corner.
01:57The Sky Blues were invigorated by their equaliser, but moments later, the Magpies led again, with Barnes grabbing his second.
02:08Manchester City were unhappy with the goal, but they are ultimately allowed it to stand.
02:15Newcastle then put their bodies on the line to hold on for the win, before tempers flared at full-time.
02:21Eddie Howe was pleased with his side's attacking performance following the conclusion of events at St James' Park.
02:29Absolutely. The biggest time to worry is when you're not flowing and you're not creating anything.
02:35We've had games like that this season where you think, I'm not sure we can score today.
02:39I don't want to produce that team and I don't want to produce that style of football.
02:42I want to look a threat in every phase, in every moment.
02:46I thought we did today. Even when we don't have the ball, you want to think one loose pass from the opposition and we can attack the other end.
02:52Today, I think we had that feeling about us.
02:54Great to see Nick have some chances.
02:57He's done very well with his goal return from limited shots.
03:01But today, again, I felt while he was on the pitch, he could score.
03:05And is the real asset test now Everton next week?
03:08Because, of course, we know the away record hasn't been as good and you should be able to,
03:11or want to be able to take a performance like that into an away game where, obviously, there's been issues this season.
03:16Yeah, I think the asset test is Marseille and Everton.
03:20We have to now go away in the Champions League to a very, very difficult opponent and we need to perform.
03:24We get very limited rest and that's the challenge.
03:27And the biggest challenge that we face, our schedule between now and the end of January is relentless.
03:31So now the players have to look after themselves.
03:33We have to regroup and we have to go again.
03:35It's difficult in that place.
03:37And it was a tight game, chances both sides.
03:42Tijo was extraordinary and we missed chances.
03:46And at the end, we were better in the second half.
03:49We conceded a goal and after, yeah, switched both sides.
03:53And at the end, we could not take a result.
03:56Eddie Howe was clearly pleased that his side were creating chances in the first half, despite them being missed.
04:02And that all Newcastle needed was that finishing touch that they managed to find before then defending manfully to see out the victory.
04:10As Howe alluded to, though, Newcastle will now have to take that standard of performance into Marseille next in the Champions League
04:17before a trip to Merseyside to face Everton in the Premier League.
04:21Home form has not been the issue so far for Newcastle, with the struggles coming away from St James' Park.
04:28The Magpies face a quick turnaround going into their match with Marseille, but they are in a good position in the Champions League,
04:35meaning that they can approach that game with renewed vigour and optimism.
04:40Everton, perhaps, will be the real test to come.
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