Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City

Anthony Gordon won a controversial penalty and then scored from the spot to earn Newcastle a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at St James’ Park and dent the title favorites’ Premier League bid.

“I don’t think it’s a penalty,” said former referee Mike Dean Football Saturday after seeing Gordon race towards goal and then hit the deck after Ederson slid at his feet and appeared to make light contact with the striker.

Ederson was shown a yellow card for “a genuine attempt to play the ball but (denying) an obvious goal-scoring opportunity”, the referees said, and Gordon – playing as a striker in the absence of injured duo Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson – sent the keeper the wrong way to level the match.

Substitute Phil Foden had City’s best chance to regain the lead but sent his shot from Erling Haaland’s move straight at Nick Pope. The Newcastle goalkeeper later had his work cut out for him by a powerful shot from Bernardo Silva, but this was a sub-par performance from Pep Guardiola’s side.

City, playing in the Premier League for the first time since Rodri was ruled out for the season and still without Kevin De Bruyne, struggled to find a way through Newcastle’s deep defense but led at half-time through the opener by Josko Gvardiol. The left back found the bottom corner from the penalty area after good play from Jack Grealish in the build-up.

The England winger played a key role in City’s late equalizer against 10-man Arsenal last weekend and showed he is back in form here with neat play – although he later risked a red card when he lunged at Sandro Tonali, against whom he had edged had. fight everywhere.

There were concerns during that first half that City would lose Haaland to injury after the striker was caught on the ankle by Dan Burn’s studs, but he was able to soldier on despite a nasty cut. Injury-hit City, who only had eight players on the bench, including two goalkeepers, could hardly afford to lose their frontman as well.

The defending champions have lost their last four Premier League games when they were without Rodri and De Bruyne from the start and although they ended that run on Saturday, they will leave the North East frustrated.

City are still top of the Premier League ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off, but Arsenal or Liverpool – who go to Wolves live on Sky Sports from 5.30pm – could be top by the end of the day, with Newcastle in fifth place, three points off the top.

More to follow…

Story of the match in statistics…

What’s to come in the Premier League?