Howe finally beats Guardiola – how Newcastle stopped Man City

Eddie Howe tried everything.

Prior to now, the head coach of Newcastle United had sent out rival teams to Manchester City. He confronted backstanders. He tried a number of formations without success.

On the eve of Saturday’s game, Howe said, “We don’t have any new left,” and it was to the point where he was only half-joking.

He did, however.

After a harrowing defeat at Brentford before the international break, Howe and his team devised a strategy to finally defeat Manchester City in the Premier League when Newcastle most needed a result.

And it paid off with Howe’s 17th attempt, which included a 2-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s side at St James’ Park, as he first tasted victory against Pep Guardiola’s side in the top flight.

Howe spent countless hours looking through footage, reviewing training, and trying to figure out what to do with this odd campaign.

Despite having a smaller training group, Newcastle attempted to rediscover “their energy and athleticism” during the international break.

And Manchester City’s visit had some notable adjustments.

Sandro Tonali has resided in the middle of the middle of the year in the central midfield three, where Captain Bruno Guimaraes has been playing, while returning full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento have both started their first games together since September and have made a significant difference.

In place of center-back Sven Botman, Fabian Schar made his first top-flight start in two months.

However, Howe chose to stick to his preferred 4-3-3 system over making drastic changes, and Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon both missed out due to injury.

The majority of those Brentford fans, and indeed those who gathered there, received the opportunity to make amends as a result of their efforts.

Howe said, “I don’t like ripping things up.” “Unless you’re in absolute panic mode, which we’re not, and I don’t think that kind of leadership is any good.”

I believe I have a very clear picture of our stronger players, and I want to try to give them every chance to showcase it by supporting and developing them.

However, something had to change.

Prior to this game, only Leeds United and Wolves, who were struggling, had scored fewer goals than Newcastle in the top flight.

Nick Woltemade, a record signing, cut a lonely figure with little to feed off, especially on the road.

Woltemade was away with Germany during the international break, but Newcastle worked on different forward movements, such as Barnes and Jacob Murphy, to try to get the best out of him when he returned.

Woltemade, who had three chances foiled by Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, had a lot of chances on Saturday for the Newcastle.

However, others have started to step up, just as Newcastle were once overly dependent on Woltemade.

Barnes, perhaps?

The forward admitted that he was not “the most popular man” at the break and had a few big misses in the first half, even going too far with the goal gaping.

Barnes opened the scoring in the second half with a superb effort from the edge of the area, but he also added a winner moments later when Ruben Dias gave Manchester City the lead.

Before losing, Newcastle had previously dominated Arsenal, Brentford, and West Ham.

However, they did not fall apart when Manchester City equalized or, in fact, eight minutes into added stoppage time.

Newcastle made more blocks than the visitors on an evening where they won more tackles and aerial duels.

Newcastle stood up, made nearly twice as many clearances as Manchester City, which naturally skews the figure, and capped their season with just four shots on target.

Former Newcastle defender Jonathan Woodgate was able to identify that defensive move.

Out of possession, he claimed, “weren’t they top-notch and made it so difficult when City attempted to find those tiny pockets in between the lines.”

Should St. James’s results under the lights not necessarily come as a surprise?

In 2025, only Manchester City (13) and Howe’s team (11) have won more Premier League home games.

In all competitions, Newcastle have won eight, drawn two, and lost just two of their home games since the start of the year against Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham.

Newcastle haven’t, however, won in the top flight since April when they were away from home.

Before Saturday’s historic victory, this side was just one point above the relegation zone because of this.

The crowd, in my opinion, has no bearing on how much the pitch’s players are changed by it, Howe said.

When we don’t have the audience present, we must find a way to inject some positive energy into our performances.