Bobb the hero as City produce last-gasp win at Newcastle

Bernardo opened the scoring for City on 26 minutes, with a delicious backheel goal.

The Magpies went in ahead at the break against the run of play after a quickfire double from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

But Pep Guardiola’s men came roaring back, with KDB producing a class right-foot finish on 74 minutes – just five minutes after coming on - to level matters.

The iconic and inspirational midfielder then played in Bobb in injury-time with the academy graduate showing experience beyond his years to finish expertly.

WHAT HAPPENED

You simply couldn’t take your eyes off the action in a first half high on incident.

The initial talking point came early and it was infuriating for the visitors.

Sean Longstaff had the ball in the net on two minutes but Isak, who provided the cross, was clearly offside in the build-up.

The flag went up late and not before Ederson had been injured in a collision with Longstaff.

Our dazed No.31 needed extensive treatment and there was near disaster in the following passage of play as the Brazilian failed to clear a Nathan Ake ball back to him. Thankfully, though, Bruno Guimaraes miskicked with a wild swing at the ball in the subsequent melee.

The Treble-winning keeper slumped to the floor shortly after and limped off, replaced by Stefan Ortega Moreno, who had previous at St James’ Park having played there earlier in the season in the Carabao Cup.

After this stop-start opening to the game, City soon settled into their entertaining and enchanting passing style – and they were stunning in stages of the opening 45 minutes.

Bernardo, a constant menace in the forward areas, opened the scoring on 26 minutes– and what a goal!

The stylish star produced a delicious backheel finish from a Kyle Walker cross from the right to put us ahead, much to the consternation of the hosts who felt there should have been a break in play after a strong Ruben Dias block on the advancing Gordon left the Newcastle forward slumped on the side of the pitch in their attack moments earlier.

Bernardo almost doubled his tally and our advantage just before the half hour mark but his left foot rocket from just outside the box cracked against the crossbar.

At this stage it only looked a matter of time before City extended our advantage. The reality was very different as the Magpies somehow soared into a half-time lead.

Guimaraes produced a first time ball to find an onrushing Isak who waited and waited before curling the ball round Walker and Ortega Moreno to level on 35 minutes.

Eddie Howe’s side, second best throughout the exhilarating half, went ahead a couple of minutes later as Gordon, in a similar position to Isak moments earlier, whipped the ball home from another tight angle.

There was fresh impetus from City as we emerged for the second half with Guardiola’s men again dominating the ball in search of a leveller.

Julian Alvarez sweetly struck a free-kick from distance on 52 minutes but Martin Dubravka shifted to his left to claw away the on-target effort. And the Newcastle stopper had to be on his toes again just before the hour mark as he got down to keep out a fizzing Phil Foden strike.

Our England playmaker couldn’t get the necessary connection on a Walker cross from the right on 63 minutes while Alvarez’s fierce drive shortly after was also kept out.

At the other end, Ortega Moreno did brilliantly to keep out onrushing Isak’s shot on the move on 66 minutes.

KDB entered the action on 69 minutes as he replaced goalscorer Bernardo and what an influence! 

The brilliant Belgian got the equaliser our performance deserved and it was pure class as he struck the ball home through Fabian Schar’s legs and past Dubravka – only five minutes after entering the action.

Bobb replaced Jeremy Doku on 82 minutes as we eyed a winner on Tyneside - and it was the academy graduate who found it.

Fellow sub KDB played in the Norwegian who kept his cool to beat Dubravka and send the away end wild as three valuable - and ultimately deserved - points were secured.

TEAMS

NEWCASTLE XI: Dubravka, Trippier (C), Schar, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Miley, Almiron, Gordon (Hall 86’), Isak

Subs: Karius, Gillespie, Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Krafth, A. Murphy, Parkinson

CITY XI: Ederson (Ortega Moreno 8’), Walker (C), Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, Bernardo (De Bruyne 69’), Foden, Doku (Bobb 82’), Alvarez

Subs: Phillips, Grealish, Gomez, Nunes, Susoho, Lewis

RETURN OF THE KING

Kevin De Bruyne hadn’t seen Premier League action in five months before tonight – but it took him just five minutes to make his mark!

He scored with a low fizzing right foot drive before setting up Oscar Bobb for a wonderful late winner in injury time.

The fans screamed ‘Oh Kevin De Bruyne’ from the stands as they revelled in the return of their charismatic hero.

From the opposition side, Eddie Howe cut a frustrated figure in his post-match interviews but even he took time to hail the brilliance of De Bruyne.

Despite the disappointment at his team’s late loss, he described KDB as a “world class player” – and how right he is.

Pep Guardiola joked after the game that he was grumpy at the Belgian for not scoring with a free-kick, his first involvement after coming on.

But his real feelings were clear to see on the pitch during the full-time celebrations as he embraced one of the top-flight’s greatest-ever players.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Rodrigo was colossal throughout the 90 minutes.

It’ll come as no surprise given the level of performance he’s been producing for several seasons now.

But his display on Tyneside was irresistible in all aspects – breaking up play, instigating attacking endeavours forward and, ultimately, leading by example.

With City 2-1 down heading into the closing stages, you could see the stunning Spanish star driving the team forward physically, vocally, emotionally.

His example ultimately spurred the team on to three points.

With players like him in the team, it’s no surprise that we have enjoyed the success we have.

GUARDIOLA REACTION

On the win:

“That was really good, sometimes it is better winning that way for the team, for everything. Incredible team the way we played with a huge personality. They showed me they want to be there, to fight until the end that they want to retain the title.”

On KDB and Bobb impact:

“I am a little bit upset and grumpy with him because he didn’t score from the free-kick! When opponents are more tired, Kevin and Oscar provide another pace at the end. Oscar’s was a fantastic goal for the control. We were really impressed in pre-season, I knew from information for the second team he was special. When Kevin has the ball and we have runners, Kevin is unique in the world but the finish by Oscar, I am so, so happy for him.”

BOBB REACTION

On the win:

“It’s an amazing feeling, just watching from the bench it was a high tempo match. When I got the shout that I was coming on, the manager told me to go on and score, thankfully I could do that.”

On his first Premier League goal:

“It’s a lifelong dream. To do it with the best team in the world, I can’t explain it.”

On the support:

“We could hear them all game. They helped us a lot today. We have to say thank you, this win is for them.”

KDB REACTION

On the win:

“It was crazy! I missed this, you know. It is what it is. I had a big injury and needed the time. I enjoyed myself and I worked hard. To come here to this stadium, this environment, it was more willpower than anything, it was crazy.”

On his sharpness:

“It’s more willpower than sharpness. I know I can’t do that for 90 minutes for the moment. I can put in a shift for 20-25 minutes at full pace. It can’t be any better than this.”

On what he prefers – goals or assists:

“The way I play, it’s assists. Obviously, it’s great to score a goal too. The pass is good. The run from Oscar is amazing. The control at that pace and to go round the goalkeeper is top. If he doesn’t run I can’t pass, he dictates what I can do.”

100 UP!

Newcastle United are the first team we’ve scored 100 goals against in the Premier League.

We were on 98 goals pre-match but hit that century landmark courtesy of our dramatic 3-2 win away at the Magpies.

The next team on the top-flight list is Aston Villa, who we’ve scored 94 against in 47 games.

Everton are next up in third with 84 goals conceded against City in 53 games while West Ham are in fourth with 83 goals from 45 matches.

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are joint fifth with City bagging 77 goals against them from 53 encounters.

Not a bad way to bring up the century!

WHAT IT MEANS

Tonight’s memorable victory vaults us into second spot in the Premier League.

We’re now just two points behind Liverpool, with both sides having played 20 games.

It will remain that way until at least Sunday evening, with Aston Villa able to leapfrog us if they defeat Everton at Goodison Park in their 14:00 (UK) kick-off.

WHAT’S NEXT

There’s a break in the football calendar now, with City back in action at the end of the month.

Pep Guardiola’s team will travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Friday 26 January for an FA Cup fourth round tie, which kicks off at 20:00 (UK).

Our next Premier League clash is a home game with Burnley.

We face former captain Vincent Kompany’s Clarets on Wednesday 31 January, with a 19:30 (UK) start at the Etihad.