Oscar Bobb secured a stoppage-time victory as Manchester City closed the gap to within two points of Liverpool, securing a win over Newcastle in an exhilarating match at St James’ Park.
The 20-year-old Norwegian, Oscar Bobb, capitalized on a splendid lofted pass from fellow substitute Kevin De Bruyne, showcasing exceptional footwork to guide the ball past Martin Dubravka and tap it into the empty net.
This marked the conclusion of an outstanding match where both teams had their dominating moments. However, City asserted control in the second half, displaying resilience and quality that could prove crucial towards the end of the season.
While Bobb celebrated his inaugural Premier League goal, the pivotal moment was ignited by De Bruyne. In just four minutes and 35 seconds after entering the game, the Belgian exploited space between the home defense and midfield, delivering a finish into the far corner.
Bernardo Silva initially gave the Premier League champions the lead in the 26th minute, executing an audacious backheel to meet Kyle Walker’s right-wing cross, but two goals in three minutes quickly shifted the advantage to Newcastle.
Initially, Alexander Isak received a precise pass from Bruno Guimaraes, curling the ball past City’s substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who had come on for the injured Ederson. The shot found the top corner, marking Isak’s fourth goal in as many games.
Subsequently, Anthony Gordon exploited space on the left, taking advantage of Kyle Walker’s retreat, and executed a spectacular curling shot into the bottom corner, eliciting ecstatic reactions from the home fans.
City’s impressive record of losing only once in 72 Premier League games when holding the lead was under serious threat until their key player, Kevin De Bruyne, extended his comeback from injury with an exceptional goal and a splendid assist for Bobb.
Manager Pep Guardiola and the entire City squad, including substitutes, celebrated exuberantly at the final whistle, savoring their third consecutive league victory and sixth in all competitions as the reigning champions.
De Bruyne delivers after defensive problems
For a significant portion of this season, City has fallen short of the standards that propelled them to win the Treble last season, particularly in defensive aspects.
These persistent issues raise questions about their summer recruitment, notably evident in some lapses in defending that contributed to both of Newcastle’s goals.
The match also highlighted City’s struggle to convert numerous scoring opportunities, including Julian Alvarez squandering a golden chance by sending the ball over the bar from eight yards while they were trailing.
Nevertheless, in De Bruyne, City possesses one of the premier playmakers globally, if not the very best. His seamless movement into space for the critical equalizer in the 74th minute showcased his exceptional talent.
The perfectly-placed low finish served as a reminder of his ability to change the course of the game. It’s noteworthy that the 32-year-old’s last league appearance was in August at Burnley, following a spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury.
In the initial minute of added time, De Bruyne managed to leave another significant mark on the match, and it was a fitting contribution. His pass, skillfully placed behind Kieran Trippier for Bobb, was nothing short of exquisite.
Bobb, who had transitioned from the left wing, displayed remarkable close control before calmly slotting the ball home, continuing his impressive campaign.
As City steadily closes in on leaders Liverpool, they now find themselves poised to embark on one of their renowned title-winning runs. The upcoming five league fixtures pit them against teams in the bottom half, with four taking place at home, where they maintained an unbeaten record in 2023.
The availability of goalkeeper Ederson for these upcoming games remains uncertain, as he was forced off in the eighth minute due to a collision with City full-back Walker and Sean Longstaff, resulting in Newcastle having a disallowed goal for offside.
Newcastle show fight but struggles continue
The outcome will be a blow for Newcastle, as Eddie Howe’s team has now suffered defeats in seven of their last 10 Premier League matches, a record that mirrors their performance in the preceding 44 games.
Nevertheless, there were positive signs throughout this captivating encounter.
Despite conceding three goals, their defensive resilience was evident, with players putting their bodies on the line on multiple occasions as City launched one attack after another.
Notably, Guimaraes made excellent saves to deny Phil Foden and Rodri in a threatening attack, while Fabian Schar blocked an attempt from Alvarez.
Newcastle’s goals showcased the swift and incisive style that has become characteristic of their attacking play under Howe.
Ortega thwarted Swedish striker Isak in a one-on-one opportunity shortly before half-time, a conversion of which might have placed the game out of City’s grasp.
Similar to their defeats at Chelsea in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and against Liverpool in the Premier League at the start of the year, Howe faced a challenge due to a lack of quality options off the bench to influence the outcome. He opted for just one change against City.
This scarcity of alternatives has posed challenges for Newcastle throughout the season. After experiencing back-to-back home defeats for the first time under the former Bournemouth boss, they currently occupy the 10th position, trailing 11 points behind a Champions League qualification spot.