Manchester City went down to a [hard-fought 2-1 defeat](https://esteemedkompany.com/2025/11/22/manchester-city-1-newcastle-2-city-fall-to-disappointing-defeat-to-a-spirited-newcastle-side/) to Newcastle United at St. James Park yesterday. The defeat was only Manchester City’s second in their past fifteen matches in all competitions. Across the past fifteen games for City, the signs are there that this iteration of Pep Guardiola’s side could eventually become what a City side has looked like throughout their recent era of dominance. But they aren’t there yet as their loss to Eddie Howe’s side yesterday showed.
Manchester City squandered too many chances against Newcastle.
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Newcastle did deserve their victory over Manchester City yesterday. Eddie Howe’s side created the better chances and a second-half brace from Harvey Barnes either side of a Ruben Dias goal was enough for the Magpies to pick up a valuable three points in an entertaining Premier League fixture yesterday. The hosts had luck on their side as several close VAR calls went their way, and backed by their passionate home support Eddie Howe’s side got in the face of the City players. They also dug deep defensively and kept City out during the game’s closing stages. With that out of the way, Manchester City did have their chances yesterday and if they put them away yesterday’s result could have been completely different.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden squandered two quality chances each during the first half of yesterday’s match. If any of the four chances they missed went in, it could have given Pep Guardiola’s side the impetus they needed to go on a pick up a valuable three points. Newcastle also had their chances in the first half but an inspired Gianluigi Donnarumma and a galling miss by Harvey Barnes kept the hosts at bay.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 22: Phil Foden of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James’ Park on November 22, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
In the second half, Newcastle took their chances and City couldn’t create any real openings outside of Ruben Dias’ goal. Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden curled efforts wide but that was the sum of Manchester City’s second-half efforts. The work rate and effort were there in the second half from Pep Guardiola’s but in the end the hosts had too much for City on the day.
The process of becoming a typical Pep Guardiola side will be a gradual one.
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The overriding feeling I had coming our of Manchester City’s loss to Newcastle was that this City side is developing into a Pep Guardiola side but they aren’t there yet. At home, City are a formidable opponent and their quality overwhelms sides. Away from the Etihad, and against dangerous teams like Aston Villa and Newcastle, the new-look City side hasn’t developed the confidence in their gamestyle and abilities just yet. That will come, the signs were there at St. James Park, but it will likely be a gradual process.
The signs were there from Pep Guardiola’s side against Newcastle that this City side is growing. They dominated possession at times, but they haven’t developed the ability to control matches away from home in typical City fashion just yet. Nor have they become capable of taking the home crowd out of the equation. But the signs were there yesterday that all of that will come in time.
While Manchester City’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle was disappointing, it wasn’t all doom and gloom at the final whistle. This City side is growing but they aren’t yet the finished article which stood out to me at the end of yesterday’s match. Alarm bells aren’t ringing just yet around Pep Guardiola’s side, they just aren’t where they need to be yet but that should come based on the positives that emerged for Manchester City from yesterday’s match.