Newcastle stand up to Man City star Jack Grealish as TV cameras miss Erling Haaland's fury
Erling Haaland's grimace said it all. Rather than booting the ball into the net, as usual, the Manchester City star kicked the air in anger after seeing a header easily claimed by Nick Pope in the 95th minute. It was a measure of how well Newcastle United defended in a 1-1 draw against four-times champions Manchester City.
Haaland, who became the first player since 1930 to reach double figures in the opening five matches of a top-flight season, and who has scored a scarcely believable 73 goals in 72 Premier League games, tellingly cut a frustrated figure at St James' Park. Newcastle limited the Manchester City star to just 34 touches. For context, only midfielder Rico Lewis had fewer for the visitors.
However, this was far from a backs-to-the wall display. Newcastle looked more like their old energetic selves - pressing intently and playing without fear - and Howe felt it was Newcastle's most competitive display yet against Manchester City. All without a recognised striker. No wonder Fabian Schar remarked: "It just shows what level we can be...we showed what we were capable of."
READ MORE:Pep Guardiola offers Newcastle United Champions League truth amid fresh Alexander Isak blow
READ MORE:Kieran Trippier uncertainty emerges as key Newcastle United team-mate ruled out of cup clash
Newcastle also did what countless sides have failed to do: recover after going behind against Manchester City. Josko Gvardiol put the visitors in front, but Anthony Gordon fired Newcastle level from the spot before the hour mark as the Magpies claimed just their second point against the champions since 2020.
Pep Guardiola was certainly impressed - the Manchester City boss told Howe how much he 'admired him for the way he approached the game' on the touchline at full-time - while Mateo Kovacic admitted the visitors were 'happy with a draw'. How often do you hear that?
There was certainly a renewed edge to Newcastle; Sandro Tonal even squared up to Jack Grealish at one point, shoving the Manchester City forward back to the floor in the second half, after the England international barged into him.
The Magpies won more than twice as many aerial duels (12) and played with newfound aggression, making 14 fouls and picking up four bookings. Although Newcastle admittedly had more of the ball against Fulham last week, the black-and-whites made just eight fouls at Craven Cottage - which was half as many as Marco Silva's team. Newcastle were far too easy to play through in the build-up to both of Fulham's opening goals, passing up multiple opportunities to make a tactical foul, before Bruno Guimaraes gift-wrapped the hosts' third to sum up a feeble display.
In contrast, on Saturday, following an intense training week, where 'everyone was kicking each other', in the words of goal scorer Gordon, Newcastle gave as good as they got against Manchester City while maintaining their discipline. Going down to 10 men would have been particularly disastrous against an opponent like this, but Howe felt Newcastle hit the sweet spot of being 'in control of our emotions while having that bite'.
"At Fulham, we were too easy to play against," the Newcastle boss told reporters. "Today, Manchester City walk off and go, 'They are a team that committed everything.' That's all we want because then you add an ability to it and we're a match for anyone."
Newcastle were certainly a match for Manchester City - even after going behind. Newcastle had held firm in the opening stages, but Jack Grealish skipped past the sliding Kieran Trippier down the line in the 35th minute and knocked the ball into the path of Josko Gvardiol, who ghosted in between Fabian Schar and Dan Burn inside the box. Gvardiol took a touch to cut inside Burn and the Manchester City defender coolly passed the ball into the net.
It was a hammer blow, but Newcastle responded and forced Ederson into action right before half-time. Kieran Trippier's searching free-kick was flicked on by Dan Burn to Joelinton, whose powerful effort was beaten away by his countryman.
That glimpse of goal gave Newcastle encouragement going into the break and the Magpies drew level in the 58th minute. Bruno Guimaraes, surrounded by four Manchester City shirts, threaded a ball through for Anthony Gordon to run on to and the forward was felled by Ederson as he attempted to round the Manchester City goalkeeper. Having filled in all afternoon for the injured Alexander Isak, it was no surprise that Gordon picked up the ball to take the penalty just as the record signing would have if he had been on the field. Gordon duly sent Ederson the wrong way to send Geordies wild.
The pendulum suddenly swung Newcastle's way. Just a few minutes later, Joelinton had a penalty appeal waved away following a tangle with Kyle Walker inside the box.
No wonder Guardiola turned to his bench, after acknowledging that Manchester City had been 'suffering', and the Catalan threw on Phil Foden. The substitute tested Pope, but his effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
Howe soon called on his replacements - Tino Livramento, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock entered the fray with around a quarter of an hour to go - and they were quickly involved. In fact, Jacob Murphy's pullback picked out the unmarked Longstaff late on, but the midfielder fired wide.
Bernardo Silva, in contrast, would hit the target deep in stoppage time, but Pope made a superb save to keep out the Manchester City star's sweetly-struck volley to secure a point. It was the least Newcastle deserved.