Barnes fires Newcastle to dramatic victory over Man City at St James’ Park

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Newcastle United produced one of their most resilient performances of the season on Saturday evening, battling past Manchester City for a deserved 2–1 victory in a fiercely contested Premier League clash at St James’ Park.

Harvey Barnes scored twice, one a precise low strike, the other a poacher’s rebound as Eddie Howe’s side overcame City’s long spells of possession and late pressure to secure a statement win against the reigning champions.

City enjoyed early control, probing through Jeremy Doku, Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden, but it was Newcastle who carved out the clearer chances.

Nick Woltemade twice forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into sharp saves, while Lewis Hall’s deliveries troubled the visitors’ back line.

The breakthrough arrived in the 63rd minute when Bruno Guimarães threaded a clever pass into Barnes. The winger shaped his body and fired a clean strike into the bottom-left corner, igniting St James’ Park.

Moments earlier, City had seen a penalty appeal turned down after VAR ruled no foul on Foden, a decision that proved pivotal as Newcastle seized momentum.

Manchester City responded swiftly. After a flurry of corners and relentless pressure, Ruben Dias struck a composed first-time finish from inside the area in the 68th minute, levelling the match and briefly silencing the home crowd.

City pushed for a second, with Haaland twice denied by Nick Pope and Cherki drifting dangerously between the lines, but Newcastle held firm.

The decisive moment came in the 70th minute. Sandro Tonali’s whipped corner caused chaos, Bruno Guimarães crashed a header onto the crossbar, and Barnes reacted fastest to smash home the rebound for 2–1.

City protested, and goalkeeper Donnarumma was booked amid claims of offside, but after a VAR check, referee Samuel Barrott confirmed the goal.

Newcastle, forced into defensive reshuffles after injuries to Lewis Hall and substitutions of Barnes and Woltemade, absorbed sustained waves of late Manchester City attacks.

Oscar Bobb, Savinho, and Nico O’Reilly all went close, while Phil Foden and Haaland were repeatedly frustrated by Newcastle’s disciplined defending and Pope’s safe hands.

City’s final chance fell to O’Reilly deep into stoppage time, but his header drifted wide, ending their hopes of a comeback.

The victory marks a significant boost for Newcastle, who showed steel, character and tactical clarity.

Barnes was the standout performer, while Guimarães dictated the tempo and Tonali delivered one of his best matches of the season.

Manchester City, for all their possession, struggled with end product and defensive lapses. The champions will view the defeat as a missed opportunity, having controlled large phases but failed to convert pressure into goals.