In a stunning Premier League upset, Newcastle United climbed out of the relegation zone with a spectacular 2-1 victory over defending champions Manchester City at St James' Park. Substitute Harvey Barnes emerged as the unlikely hero, scoring both goals in a match that could prove transformative for Eddie Howe's side.
Howe's Historic First Victory Over Guardiola
Eddie Howe finally secured his first Premier League win against Pep Guardiola at the 19th attempt, having previously suffered 16 defeats and two draws against the Catalan manager across his tenures at Bournemouth and Newcastle. This watershed moment arrived despite Newcastle starting the match languishing in 15th position, just above the relegation places.
The home side's recent league form had been concerning, but they delivered a performance of character and quality against the champions. Howe demonstrated his tactical flexibility by implementing a significant midfield reshuffle, with Bruno Guimarães dropping into the No 6 role and Sandro Tonali advancing to the No 8 position.
Missed Opportunities Define Chaotic First Half
The opening 45 minutes featured numerous wasted chances from both teams. Manchester City's Erling Haaland spurned a golden opportunity early on when clean through on goal, uncharacteristically mishandling his attempt to lift the ball over Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope.
At the other end, Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a spectacular save to deny Nick Woltemade's header from Tino Livramento's delivery. The first half also featured two significant VAR interventions, with reviews ruling against penalty appeals for a Fabian Schär challenge on Phil Foden and dismissing handball claims against Malick Thiaw.
Barnes Comes Off Bench to Decide Thrilling Contest
The breakthrough finally arrived in the second half through Harvey Barnes, who only started due to Anthony Gordon's late fitness test failure. The substitute combined cleverly with Guimarães before unleashing a powerful first-time shot that beat Donnarumma for pace and precision.
City's response was swift, with Rúben Dias equalising after Newcastle failed to clear a corner. Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden worked the ball back into the area before it fell to Dias, whose shot deflected through Schär's legs and past a unsighted Pope.
The drama intensified almost immediately as Guimarães saw his header rebound off the crossbar, with Barnes reacting quickest to volley home the winner. Another VAR check examined a potential offside against Guimarães but ultimately allowed the goal to stand, securing three precious points for the Magpies.
Newcastle saw out the victory by switching to a defensive back five, displaying a resilience that has often been missing during their recent slide. This statement win against the champions provides renewed hope for their Premier League campaign and represents a significant personal milestone for manager Eddie Howe.
