Well, that’s that one then.
Having oscillated from misery at the Everton surrender to ecstasy at the win against Man Utd, it was difficult to know what to think here.
Overall, I felt we were capable of doing something as Man City had already been seen off here in the Premier League, and with the triple threat of a Premier League title challenge to sustain, the league cup final and Real Madrid up next, there was every chance the visitors might not be giving this their full attention.
If United could carry the momentum from the win against the other set of Mancs, this could be very positive indeed, and keep alive a realistic hope of salvaging a season that has really fallen apart.
This looked extremely positive from the off as Man City rested all of their big hitters and United started by far the better. This ultimately paid off when Harvey Barnes, match winner when last we showed up for this fixture, latched onto Tonali’s deft pass to open the scoring. How positive we suddenly felt as thoughts of a return to Wembley crept around the ground.
The positivity was allowed to percolate for most of the first half, until it happened yet again. Once more a lead was allowed to slip. Once again a performance that shone for half an hour was unceremoniously plunged into darkness as the remainder of the game belonged to Man City. The circumstances of the equaliser would be comical if it wasn’t so frustrating, as Doku’s dangerous ball travelled across the box where the unmarked and abandoned Savinho just stood and let it hit him, trundling embarrassingly over the line as Ramsdale just failed to recover and claw it back.
Level at half time, United did not use it as an opportunity to galvanise. There were less than two minutes on the clock when Nunes replicated the Doku assist and Marmoush had time to take a touch, go for a pint in the Black Bull, then knock it in to put a dagger in the tie. Twenty minutes later he ended it by smashing in a speculative effort from outside the box.
Marmoush has now scored 14 times since joining Man City and a frankly deplorable seven of those have come against Newcastle. On the one hand that is annoying to the point of seeking him out for a straightener in the car park whilst on the other it’s frustrating that United haven’t yet figured out a way to maybe deal with him.
The atmosphere was funereal for the remainder of the match as United looked defeated in match, spirit and season. Eddie Howe rightly pointed out that Barcelona now occupy the full focus as the Champions League, somewhat ludicrously, remains our only chance of a trophy. This was something I’d considered unfeasible going into the season and would potentially upgrade to impossible, given the performances we are capable of.
The more measured approach would surely have been to target this one. The record books will show we exited the cup to the all conquering Man City but the reality is that ten changes in the opposition line up meant we were facing a very good, but far from lethal, PL side that were entirely beatable. Both Burn and Joelinton were outstanding on Wednesday night and they should have been utilised in organising and bullying respectively, to shore up a back line that is leaking a shocking series of goals both in the amount conceded and the nature of them, with sloppy marking and failure to clear danger at the first time of asking.
By contrast, Osula’s fabulous winner earned him a start that passed without incident, whereas I’d rather have seen either the experience of Gordon leading the line, or even an attempt to squeeze some value out of that £55 million spent on Wissa (not that he affected proceedings at all when introduced(. Woltemade was unlucky with an early header that was scrambled off the line, but other than that, he again looked like he’s unsure what he’s supposed to be doing in that advanced midfield slot.
Overall, there are many, many questions for how this squad can be revamped over the summer. Many of our heroes of the fabulous last few years are waning and some of those who aren’t, are ripe for the plucking. Daily stories of attention from clubs without a PSR restraint on them will surely only escalate with any sort of Europe looking highly unlikely.
The season as remains must play out as follows: a spirited effort against Barcelona and a solid attempt to enjoy a knockout tie in the world’s biggest club competition against one of the world’s biggest clubs.
If this tie is navigated then we need to continue to enjoy this competition as far as we can go (quarter final may well be quite winnable) but the idea of overcoming whoever lies in wait at the business end is mind boggling.
More likely we need to get the fire for a decent run at the final Premier League fixtures by righting a wrong in the derby. This could be a fine springboard for a final run after the international break that offers potential for a European finish. The way the FA Cup fixtures have played out makes it highly unlikely the trophy is being claimed by anyone outside of the usual suspects, which would mean 8th place will get a European spot. This is attainable even from our sorry position in the table (five points off 7th), but it will need a serious uptick in standards.
If this doesn’t begin with that derby, I fear for the backlash Eddie Howe will receive. The restless response to some of the recent poor showings has had to be offset by the ongoing competitiveness in two cups. With one gone and another needing a tall order not to follow, it could be disastrous if the crescendo of this is another unacceptable display against the visitors from Wearside.
On a personal note, I am writing this report on my birthday, having spent the day running my kids to various clubs before getting on a train bound for Swindon for a work event tomorrow. I had hoped to offset this with a pleasant Saturday, which my lovely wife did her best to accommodate by taking me for lunch to Mowgli, considerable drinks and joining me at the game. I’d like to offset my thanks to her with a pox upon Marmoush and the Newcastle defence for their sterling efforts to ruin things, as (in Newcastle United’s case) has happened on many an event, occasion and otherwise pleasant weekend throughout my whole entire life.
Another bad chapter in a season that still isn’t dead yet but is starting to look in critical condition. We go again Tuesday hoping for that course correct.
Newcastle United 1 Manchester City 3 – Saturday 7 March 2026 8pm
Match Stats
Goals:
Newcastle United:
Barnes 18
Man City:
Savinho 39, Marmoush 47, 65
Possession was Newcastle 37% Man City 63%
Total shots were Newcastle 11 Man City 21
Shots on target were Newcastle 4 Man City 8
Corners were Newcastle 3 Man City 9
Touches in the opposition box Newcastle 15 Man City 64
Newcastle team v Man City:
Ramsdale, Trippier (Burn 63), Thiaw, Botman, Hall (Livramento 80), Tonali, Willock, Elanga (Joelinton 62), Barnes, Osula (Wissa 63), Woltemade (Gordon 72)
Unused subs:
Pope, Jacob Murphy, Alex Murphy, Sean Neave
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