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SUB: Dwight Gayle (Almiron, 82), N/A – A quiet cameo from Gayle, who couldn’t get into the game. Reuters

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 6 – A wet and cold evening for the Brazilian, who had very little to do. He made his first save in the second half, a comfortable low dive to his right to deny Jacob Murphy. He denied Murphy again 12 minutes from time with another impressive stop. EPA

Joao Cancelo 8 – His attacking play and passing in the final third was impressive. Playing at right-back, he seemed to have a lot of freedom and was often found in the No 10 role. One of his driving runs led to City’s second goal. AFP

John Stones 7 – Another fine performance from Stones who continues to impress. Was solid at the back, but probably should have done better when gifted with a free header from a De Bruyne free-kick. Reuters

Ruben Dias 7 – A comfortable night for Dias, who continues to look class alongside Stones and who seems to have transformed City’s defence. Reuters

Nathan Ake 7 – Played in a makeshift left-back role and looked solid, if not a little shaky in possession. Won everything in the air. Reuters

Ilkay Gundogan 8 – Netted his second goal of the season with a simple tap-in following neat work from Raheem Sterling, and then continued to dominate the midfield. AFP

Rodri 6 – Played in front of the defence and his passing tempo was too slow. He was booked in the first half and was on the end of one or two big challenges, so was replaced by Fernandinho. AFP

Bernardo Silva 5 – A quiet game for Silva, who hit the post in the second half with 30 minutes left on the clock after Sterling should have scored from close range. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne 7 – De Bruyne was heavily involved in City’s attacks and he twice came close to scoring in the first half, first with what looked like a mishit cross that almost caught out Karl Darlow, and again when one-on-one with Darlow. Reuters

Raheem Sterling 6 – Showed great composure for the opening goal. He dummied the goalkeeper and two defenders before unselfishly setting up Ilkay Gundogan to tap in. It was his fifth assist of the season. However, he later missed a sitter and was generally guilty of taking too many touches in the opposing box. EPA

Ferran Torres 7 – Always threatened. He had a tame shot saved in the first half and then set up De Bruyne before half time, but later got his second goal of the season with a simple tap-in in the second half. EPA

SUB: Fernandinho (Rodri, 57) 7 – His introduction brought a lot of energy to the team. City started moving the ball quicker and they looked a lot more comfortable with him in the XI. AFP

SUB: Sergio Aguero (Torres, 77) N/A – Almost scored with his first touch when set up by Cancelo, but was denied by a superb save from Karl Darlow. EPA

SUB: Phil Foden (Gundogan) N/A – Came on at the final whistle, which seemed strange given City have another game inside 48 hours. Reuters

NEWCASTLE UNITED RATINGS: Karl Darlow 8 – Made a number of key saves to keep the score down and had it not been for him, Newcastle’s evening would have been a lot more ugly. Newcastle’s best performer by some distance. EPA

DeAndre Yedlin 5 – Got himself into decent crossing positions but was guilty of taking too many touches or failing to deliver with his final ball. Was lucky not to concede a penalty when it looked like he’d made a rash challenge on Sterling. EPA

Fabian Schar 5 – Schar had a tough evening. He was arguably at fault for City’s first goal when he failed to get closer to Sterling. EPA

Federico Fernandez 6 – Played well but was unlucky when his block from Cancelo’s cross fell to Torres for City’s second. He made several last-gasp clearances during the game. EPA

Ciaran Clark 7 – One of Newcastle’s brightest players, he lead by example and made some dynamic runs into the City half. AFP

Matt Ritchie 5 – A natural left winger, he played in a makeshift wing-back role and it didn’t suit him. He made some decent challenges, but his final ball often let him down. Reuters

Jacob Murphy 6 – Made a lot of runs into the City half and even had a couple of shots on goal, but didn’t trouble Ederson. EPA

Isaac Hayden 7 – Was extremely busy in the middle and was excellent up against De Bruyne and Gundogan. He made a crucial intervention to deny Sterling in the second half. AFP

Matty Longstaff 7 – He impressed in the middle for the visitors and worked tirelessly, even getting ahead of Joelinton to press the City defenders. A neat and tidy performance. EPA

Miguel Almiron 5 – Another square peg played in a round hole, Almiron did his best from a wide position but was unable to create much of note. Reuters

Joelinton 5 – Was played out of position as a lone target man and was isolated for much of the game. A poor performance, but too much was asked of him. EPA

SUB: Andy Carroll (Joelinton) N/A – Caused a fair bot of havoc when he came on but was as isolated as Joelinton before him, and found it hard to get into scoring positions. Reuters

SUB: Jamal Lewis (Ritchie, 66) 5 – Came on when Newcastle needed a goal and couldn’t provide the spark they needed, instead playing too many safe and sideways passes. AFP

SUB: Dwight Gayle (Almiron, 82), N/A – A quiet cameo from Gayle, who couldn’t get into the game. Reuters

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson 6 – A wet and cold evening for the Brazilian, who had very little to do. He made his first save in the second half, a comfortable low dive to his right to deny Jacob Murphy. He denied Murphy again 12 minutes from time with another impressive stop. EPA

Joao Cancelo 8 – His attacking play and passing in the final third was impressive. Playing at right-back, he seemed to have a lot of freedom and was often found in the No 10 role. One of his driving runs led to City’s second goal. AFP

John Stones 7 – Another fine performance from Stones who continues to impress. Was solid at the back, but probably should have done better when gifted with a free header from a De Bruyne free-kick. Reuters

Ruben Dias 7 – A comfortable night for Dias, who continues to look class alongside Stones and who seems to have transformed City’s defence. Reuters

Nathan Ake 7 – Played in a makeshift left-back role and looked solid, if not a little shaky in possession. Won everything in the air. Reuters

Ilkay Gundogan 8 – Netted his second goal of the season with a simple tap-in following neat work from Raheem Sterling, and then continued to dominate the midfield. AFP

Rodri 6 – Played in front of the defence and his passing tempo was too slow. He was booked in the first half and was on the end of one or two big challenges, so was replaced by Fernandinho. AFP

Bernardo Silva 5 – A quiet game for Silva, who hit the post in the second half with 30 minutes left on the clock after Sterling should have scored from close range. Reuters

Kevin De Bruyne 7 – De Bruyne was heavily involved in City’s attacks and he twice came close to scoring in the first half, first with what looked like a mishit cross that almost caught out Karl Darlow, and again when one-on-one with Darlow. Reuters

Raheem Sterling 6 – Showed great composure for the opening goal. He dummied the goalkeeper and two defenders before unselfishly setting up Ilkay Gundogan to tap in. It was his fifth assist of the season. However, he later missed a sitter and was generally guilty of taking too many touches in the opposing box. EPA

Ferran Torres 7 – Always threatened. He had a tame shot saved in the first half and then set up De Bruyne before half time, but later got his second goal of the season with a simple tap-in in the second half. EPA

SUB: Fernandinho (Rodri, 57) 7 – His introduction brought a lot of energy to the team. City started moving the ball quicker and they looked a lot more comfortable with him in the XI. AFP

SUB: Sergio Aguero (Torres, 77) N/A – Almost scored with his first touch when set up by Cancelo, but was denied by a superb save from Karl Darlow. EPA

SUB: Phil Foden (Gundogan) N/A – Came on at the final whistle, which seemed strange given City have another game inside 48 hours. Reuters

NEWCASTLE UNITED RATINGS: Karl Darlow 8 – Made a number of key saves to keep the score down and had it not been for him, Newcastle’s evening would have been a lot more ugly. Newcastle’s best performer by some distance. EPA

DeAndre Yedlin 5 – Got himself into decent crossing positions but was guilty of taking too many touches or failing to deliver with his final ball. Was lucky not to concede a penalty when it looked like he’d made a rash challenge on Sterling. EPA

Fabian Schar 5 – Schar had a tough evening. He was arguably at fault for City’s first goal when he failed to get closer to Sterling. EPA

Federico Fernandez 6 – Played well but was unlucky when his block from Cancelo’s cross fell to Torres for City’s second. He made several last-gasp clearances during the game. EPA

Ciaran Clark 7 – One of Newcastle’s brightest players, he lead by example and made some dynamic runs into the City half. AFP

Matt Ritchie 5 – A natural left winger, he played in a makeshift wing-back role and it didn’t suit him. He made some decent challenges, but his final ball often let him down. Reuters

Jacob Murphy 6 – Made a lot of runs into the City half and even had a couple of shots on goal, but didn’t trouble Ederson. EPA

Isaac Hayden 7 – Was extremely busy in the middle and was excellent up against De Bruyne and Gundogan. He made a crucial intervention to deny Sterling in the second half. AFP

Matty Longstaff 7 – He impressed in the middle for the visitors and worked tirelessly, even getting ahead of Joelinton to press the City defenders. A neat and tidy performance. EPA

Miguel Almiron 5 – Another square peg played in a round hole, Almiron did his best from a wide position but was unable to create much of note. Reuters

Joelinton 5 – Was played out of position as a lone target man and was isolated for much of the game. A poor performance, but too much was asked of him. EPA

SUB: Andy Carroll (Joelinton) N/A – Caused a fair bot of havoc when he came on but was as isolated as Joelinton before him, and found it hard to get into scoring positions. Reuters

SUB: Jamal Lewis (Ritchie, 66) 5 – Came on when Newcastle needed a goal and couldn’t provide the spark they needed, instead playing too many safe and sideways passes. AFP

SUB: Dwight Gayle (Almiron, 82), N/A – A quiet cameo from Gayle, who couldn’t get into the game. Reuters

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce hits back at 'mass hysteria' over club's poor form

After 2-0 defeat at Manchester City, Magpies boss insists his remit is simply 'to make sure we stay and remain a Premier League outfit'

The National

December 27, 2020

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