Newcastle left Man City empty-handed after a 2-1 defeat and Anthony Elanga's expression as the teams left the field summed things up - this was an opportunity wasted in many ways
Erling Haaland of Manchester City battled all game with Dan Burn of Newcastle United
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Newcastle United ruffled the feathers of Manchester City to leave Erling Haaland fuming but they did not do enough to snatch a point at this ill-fated venue.
United were undone by Nico O'Reilly's brace as the England star scored twice in the first half. Lewis Hall had levelled the game up for Newcastle who pushed hard for a second equaliser.
There was controversy, too, as Dan Burn had the ball in the net but was ruled offside after he was forced into that position by a push from Ruben Dias. Burn grappled throughout with Haaland and survived being booked early on. The Norway ace was not able to dictate the game or score - a plus of sorts when the dust settles.
After some batterings here, Newcastle looked better but the bigger picture is more concerning. Newcastle are way off the pace with 11 games to go in terms of Champions League places and could have to settle for the Europa Conference League unless they do something incredible in one of the cups.
At least this game will give Newcastle confidence for the FA Cup fifth round at St James' Park. But they were also guilty of missing chances as they created 13 goal attempts with only Hall's deflected strike to show for it.
Man City got straight on to the front foot and forced four corners inside the first three minutes, but Newcastle at least cleared their lines in the very early exchanges. But despite that early pressure, Man City could not turn it into an attempt at goal.
On nine minutes, Dan Burn entered the referee's notebook for hauling back Erling Haaland as he tried to get free on the right. However, on 14 minutes United slipped behind after losing the ball in midfield with Man City taking full advantage from what should have been a routine goal kick.
Nick Pope booted the ball upfield but Nick Woltemade lost the header before Omar Marmoush glided through the middle leaving Sandro Tonali and Jacob Ramsey trailing in his wake.
With Kieran Trippier pulled out of position, Marmoush slipped it to Nico O'Reilly, who waited for the ball to roll into his path before swerving a vicious first-time finish past Nick Pope. The Toon keeper got a hand on it but couldn't prevent it from putting City ahead.
Just like the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, Newcastle were presented with a chance to equalise soon after falling behind. Anthony Gordon cut inside and fired at Gianluigi Donnarumma, but the Italian made a fine save.
Midway through the first half, Newcastle started to ask more questions of Man City as Malick Thiaw forced Donnarumma into a save to earn a corner. Sandro Tonali swung the ball in from the left with the ball only half-cleared at the front post by Matheus Nunes.
Jacob Ramsey helped it on to Lewis Hall, who fired a shot that took a deflection off Rayan Ait-Nouri and beat Donnaruma to make it 1-1 with 22 minutes on the clock. That sparked pandemonium in the away end but the joy lasted just five minutes.
With 27 minutes gone, Antoine Semenyo played in Haaland down the right who lifted a cross for England youngster O'Reilly to steer a header past Pope with Trippier unable to get close to him.
Newcastle were left furious on 34 minutes when Halaand caught Thiaw in the mouth with his arm. The incident went to VAR but the verdict was he had not used his arm as a weapon and he escaped punishment.
Six minutes before the break, Trippier set Anthony Elanga darting down the right-hand side with the £55m man cutting it back for Gordon, who played in Joe Willock, but his shot was saved by Donnarumma.
Newcastle thought they'd equalised a second time on 42 minutes after Gordon was fouled on the left with Ruben Dias booked. Sandro Tonali whipped in the free-kick with Burn rising high to head home, but the flag went up, and VAR concluded he was offside. However, a look at the replays indicated Burn had been shoved into an offside position by Dias to add a sense of further injustice to the incident.
Haaland sent an effort the wrong side of the post before Marmoush sent one wide of the target just before the break, but City went in for the break ahead by a single goal.
The second half started with a yellow card for each side as Willock was booked for a tug on Bernardo Silva on 48 minutes. Moments later, Silva was yellow-carded for a foul on Ramsey.
Burn won a dangerous free-kick seven minutes into the second half, Hall whipped the ball at goal, but it brushed past the side netting. Pep Guardiola introduced Newcastle's chief tormenter from the Carabao Cup Rayan Cherki into the action on 58 minutes as he replaced Marmoush.
Howe made a double change after the hour as he brought on fit-again Joelinton and Harvey Barnes for Willock and Woltemade. Barnes was booked almost immediatley after pulling back Nunes. And there was a caution for Trippier who clipped Ait-Nouri as City threatened down the left.
Newcastle were still in the game going into the final 15 minutes. Howe rolled the dice again on 78 minutes as William Osula and Jacob Murphy were thrown into the battle as Gordon and Elanga came off. The game was set up for Newcastle to find a late equaliser but Pope had to come to the rescue with saves from Haaland and substitute Phil Foden.
Barnes earned a corner as Donnarumma made a save to deny an equaliser. That led to late, late drama as Pope ventured forward for the set-piece but Newcastle could not snatch a point.
As the teams left the pitch, Anthony Elanga cut a lonely figure as he walked off alone, looking rueful after failing to make more of possession. It felt like a missed opportunity for the winger and his teammates.
Referee: Thomas Bramall (South Yorkshire)
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