DESPITE the loss and some questionable refereeing decisions, Newcastle put up a decent performance ahead of the FA Cup showdown against Man City next week.
In a tightly fought affair on Saturday (February 21), Newcastle United were beaten 2-1 at the Etihad by a strong Manchester City side with Premier League title aspirations.
20-year-old prospect Nico O'Reilly scored two great efforts on either side of Lewis Hall's deflected equaliser, in an exciting, end-to-end first half, where Dan Burn was later controversially denied an equaliser, after Ruben Dias pushed him into an offside position.
A more measured and less eventful second 45 minutes, in terms of goal-scoring chances, followed the first, as City couldn't capitalise on their lion's share of chances.
Lewis Hall's deflected leveller got the Magpies back in the game (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
However, the biggest talking point from the match came midway through the second half, when the already booked Bernardo Silva clattered into Burn in a poorly timed challenge.
Newcastle, although awarded a free kick, has every right to feel slightly aggrieved, as fans, pundits, and experts unanimously agreed that Silva deserved a second yellow for the late challenge.
On Sky Sports, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said that Silva "takes a chance".
"It's a reckless challenge. He doesn't look at the ball. The ball is not there."
Whilst former Premier League journeyman and current pundit Jay Bothroyd added: "The referee looked at the situation and thought, Silva can't hurt Burn! If it were Haaland, he would've got a yellow card.
"The fact that he is a small man is the reason he hasn't looked at it and thought that is a yellow card."
While the result leaves Newcastle 11th in the Premier League, after holding a good account of themselves, it poises their fifth-round FA Cup tie against City nicely.
In what will be the fifth meeting of the two sides this season - following two Premier League and two Carabao Cup face-offs - Newcastle can go into the March 7 game, under the lights at St James' Park, with an ounce of hope of surpassing Pep Guardiola's side; themselves on an unheard of 18-month trophy drought.
Following the game, Eddie Howe said this season has been a "challenge" for which there are "no excuses" and that their position in 11th in the table isn't where they wanted to be at this stage of the season.
He said: "But you always have to give context to every situation, and our league position isn’t based on this result.
"I thought this and the last three games have been a big upturn in terms of performance, physicality, identity, and quality of play.
"I think we’re heading in the right direction, hopefully, and I think that’s the most important thing and then you know long-term we’re going to be fine."of whom
Yoane Wissa and Sven Botman, both who have missed the last several games through injury have trained this week and are expected in the squad for the visit of Qarabag (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
In their next encounter, the Magpies host Qarabag FK today (February 24), as the Azerbaijani side attempts to overcome an insurmountable deficit following their 6-1 loss to Newcastle, who recorded their largest goal margin win in Champions League history.
Although I suspect Howe will give minutes to squad players like Will Osula and Alex Murphy, I think the usually cautious manager won't throw too many U21 players in, although the promising duo Sean Neave and Leo Shahar may be allowed some game time.