Blunt, Newcastle 1 vs. 1 City

“We started winning and after that we didn't have the control. We didn't play well.”

, Manuel Pellegrini – 19/04/2016.

Goals; Aguero (15'); Anita (30')

Line Up (4-2-3-1); Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolorov, Navas (Bony 84'), Fernando, Delph (Sterling 68'), Toure (Fernandinho 73'), De Bruyne, Aguero
Stats;Possession, 43%/57%; Shots, 5(3)/9(5); Fouls, 13/8
Referee; Kevin Friend

Its difficult to believe this was the same City side which had taken Chelsea apart, only three days previously. Pellgrini made three changes from Saturday; Kompany returned from his latest lay off, replacing Otamendi, as did Fernando to give a rare rest to fellow Brazilian, Fernandinho, and finally Fabian Delph replaced an injured Samir Nasri. Of these changes it was the Frenchman who was arguably the most missed. Nasri's displays have been confident and assured, with him willing to take the ball in tight spaces, and playing with guile, getting the best out of those around him. Unfortunately for Delph, his return coincided with a lethargic display from for all his teammates, which emphasised that he is a blunt instrument in comparison with Nasri, running into cul-de-sacs and giving the ball away too often to be effective in a more advanced role. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but perhaps Delph would have been better deployed as Fernandinho's replacement.

There was also an element of timing to City's woes; this was a Newcastle in the middle of a relegation dog fight, given new confidence by a new manager, and a first win at the weekend. That, however, is no excuse. City should have been ready, and willing, to be as combative in return, and simply were not up for the fight. On a cold Tuesday night on Tyneside, City were bereft of the zip and guile which had made the Chelsea game so entertaining.

City started brightly enough, and were even gifted a goal on 15'. Kolorov who had been fouled on the left of the Newcastle penalty area, crossed in the resulting free-kick for Aguero to easily guide his header past Darlow in the Newcastle goal. 1-0, and Kun's 100th goal for the club (however he was blatantly offside, even though the goal stood). At that point the City faithful were hopeful, and had De Bruyne took slightly more time with his effort six minutes later, having gained possession just outside the penalty area with an interception, but putting the ball wide, it might have been game over.

But really from that point on, it was Newcastle who clicked, understanding that pressuring the ball at all times would put City's slightly lop sided formation on the back foot. Newcastle had had two or three chances, the best from Sissoko who had shot into Harts arms just a minute earlier, by the time the Frenchman found teammate Anita on the right of City's penalty area on 31', and the Newcastle left back put the ball past Hart, off the post to make it 1-1.

The second half was no better for City. Countless misplaced passes, and too little response to Newcastle's pressing game. There was a good shout for a penalty on 50', when Aguero was tripped with his back to goal, but its likely referee Friend used the opportunity to even up the bad decisions by waving play on. But despite good possession, City looked lethargic, and the only other chance of note was a De Bruyne long range effort on 73' palmed away by the Newcastle keeper. The longer the game went on the less likely City looked like scoring, and if ever there was a game to confirm City's dressing room moto, "Hard Work Beats Talent, If Talent Doesn't Work Hard", this was it.

So another disappointing away draw against a bottom three side to add to those against Norwich and Villa. We again have to look down the table as well as up. As games run out towards the end of the Season, all City's games now have a feel of must win about them. The the team will have to work a lot harder than this to earn a "third placed play-off" with Arsenal on 8th May. On the bright side Aguero became the second fastest player to 100 goals in the Premier League (147 appearances), behind Alan Shearer (124 appearances).

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me