Newcastle United might just be back - and Jason Tindall's taunt to Italy legend may just have proved it
Gianluigi Donnarumma of Manchester City remonstrates with referee Samuel Barrott, after Harvey Barnes scores his team's second goal
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Newcastle United assistant boss Jason Tindall ordered Gianluigi Donnarumma to pipe down as the Magpies stood up to the pressure at St James' Park.
The world's No 1 keeper was left rattled by United and was fuming that Harvey Barnes' winner at the Gallowgate End was allowed to stand. As Tindall celebrated wildly in the technical area Donnarumma raced out of his goal to confront him before being shushed by Eddie Howe's assistant.
As the emotions boiled over it summed up this intense Newcastle victory and suggested that Howe and Tindall's Magpies might - just - be back! Barnes' goals were only the tip of the iceberg as the tackles roared in and Newcastle looked like the side that charged back into the Champions League last season.
For all the talk of the boss being under scrutiny, 50,000 Geordies said it best by chanting the pair's name loud into the November night. This was a big win and it means that United head to Marseille on a high next week.
After Barnes had struck a first minute shot at Gianluigi Donnarumma after a shocking clearance from the Italian star, City responded when Phil Foden slipped in Erling Haaland but after going one on one with Nick Pope he scuffed his chance horribly wide - much to the delight of the Gallowgate faifthful.
Haaland won a corner in the sixth minute and after the move broken down a couple of times, the ball fell for Rayan Cherki but he drilled it straight at Nick Pope. With 12 minutes played, Jacob Murphy whipped in a fine cross for Nick Woltemade and his towering header was pushed away low down by the former Paris St-Germain ace.
Moments later, Lewis Hall was clipped from behind by Ruben Dias, but referee Sam Barrott waved away slight protests. England star Foden thought he had a glimpse of goal with 17 minutes gone but Fabian Schar snapped into a well-time challenge, the tackle was reviewed by VAR but the ref stuck with his original decision - much to City's fury.
Newcastle then survived a handball appeal in the box and another VAR check after Malick Thiaw brushed the ball with his arm. But the game reached the mid-way point of the first half at 0-0.
Woltemade raced through on 25 minutes but again Euro 2020 star Donnarumma made a good save low down. But the man regarded by many as the best keeper in the world should have been fishing the ball out of his net on the half-hour mark.
This time Murphy clipped in a right wing cross to the back post but Barnes got it all wrong. Failing to find the finish before collapsing in a heap at the Leazes End when it looked easier to score.
Pope blocked from close range to deny Haaland 10 minutes before the break after Nico O'Reilly had cut the ball back. Both sides missed big chances though and Pep Guardiola had his head in his hands when Foden screwed one wide from close range after Cherki's pass.
And so the first half was a story of missed chances for both sides as they went in level at the break. Woltemade was thwarted by Donnarumma at the Gallowgate End in another big moment.
As Foden and Haaland wasted further chances, the game was swinging in the balance for Newcastle as they feared being hit by a City sucker punch. However, the roof came off on 63 minutes as United made the most of an attack through the middle.
Bruno broke into the final third and prodded the ball in the direction of Barnes and this time he made no mistake. With those images of missed chances still haunting him, this time Barnes confidently guided it past the keeper from 18 yards.
After O'Reilly had lost the ball in the middle of the pitch, Bruno and Barnes played an excellent one-two before the winger hit the jackpot. But the joy only lasted four minutes as City roared back after Newcastle failed to clear their lines.
Bernardo Silva's cross ended up being half-cleared by Lewis Hall and Ruben Dias squeezed the ball through Schar's legs and into the net. With 20 minutes left Barnes pounced again after Woltemade's header across the goal was headed off the bar by Bruno.
It fell for Barnes who calmly converted on the line and after a nervous VAR check for a possible offside, the goal stood - much to Newcastle's delight. Guardiola hauled off Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki, and Bernardo Silva in a big move at 2-1 down as he threw on Oscar Bobb, Savinho, and Tijjani Reijnders.
Newcastle threw on Joe Willock and Anthony Elanga for the final throes of the contest as Barnes went off to a standing ovation, while a shattered Woltemade was replaced by Willock.
Man City were able to £59m substitute Omar Marmoush for Foden for the last few minutes. But they could not find another equaliser and the Magpies held on for a crucial three points.
Why can't they do this every week?
Referee: Sam Barrott (Yorkshire)
Attendance: 52,181