3 Positives and 3 Negatives to take from Manchester City 4 Newcastle 0 | OneFootball

Saturday afternoon’s match ended Manchester City 4 Newcastle 0.

Ahead of each match we ask one of our writers to come up with three positives and three negatives following the game.

Plenty to talk about after this one…

On this occasion it is The Armchair Fan:

Newcastle travelled to Manchester City on Saturday hoping to continue their rich vein of form.

Hopes were high that United could add to their twelve wins in fourteen matches but a disastrous first-half saw the Toon three goals down and never looking like gaining anything from the match.

Unfortunately, I now have to come up with three positives, to go along with the many negatives of what was a fairly dismal weekend for those of a black and white persuasion. Here goes:

POSITIVES

Results elsewhere

Defeats for both Chelsea and Forest have ensured that they still remain in Newcastle’s sights.

Thankfully neither side took the opportunity to pull away from NUFC in an increasingly tight race for European qualification.

League table

Newcastle are currently seventh in the Premier League table and only three points off the top four.

Putting a run of form together will have us right up there in contention for another crack at the Champions League.

It looks likely that fifth place will be enough to achieve qualification to Europe’s most prestigious competition and this is still well within our grasp.

Chance to right the wrongs

Upcoming league fixtures against both Nottingham Forest and Liverpool provide the perfect opportunity to put things right.

The Forest game in particular is a real six-pointer.

Win these matches and we’re back in business.

Result

Football is, and always has been, a results business.

Losing any match is hard to take but getting battered 4-0 from a rival for European qualification is a complete disaster.

This was a dreadful result.

Performance

Sometimes you lose matches and feel aggrieved that you didn’t deserve to come away with nothing.

This was not one of those times.

We never got going and were found wanting in every department.

One of our worst performances of the season and one of Man City’s best, led to the inevitable conclusion.

Missed opportunity

Going into this one, confidence was high that the Toon could win their first ever league match at the Etihad stadium.

Newcastle were on a fine run of form and Man City had dropped a lot of points this season compared to recent years.

Confidence was high that the Toon could potentially take advantage of Man City’s new found fragility and continue their run of away wins in the process.

Unfortunately, this never looked likely and the match goes down as a huge missed opportunity.

Manchester City 4 Newcastle 0 – Saturday 15 February 2025 3pm

Man City:

Marmoush 19, 24, 33 McAtee 84

Possession was Newcastle 39% Man City 61%

Total shots were Newcastle 3 Man City 11

Shots on target were Newcastle 1 Man City 7

Corners were Newcastle 4 Man City 7

Touches in the box Newcastle 10 Man City 24

Newcastle team v Man City:

Dubravka, Trippier (Livramento 46), Schar, Burn, Hall, Bruno (Longstaff 72), Tonali, Willock (Miley 46), Gordon (Wilson 73), Isak (Krafth 90), Murphy

Subs:

Pope, Barnes, Targett, Osula

(If that’s the way you feel just hand in your Carabao Cup final tickets here – Read HERE)

(Manchester City 4 Newcastle 0 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(Manchester City 4 Newcastle 0 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

Wednesday 26 February – Liverpool v Newcastle (8.15pm) TNT Sports

Sunday 2 March –  Newcastle v Brighton (1.45pm) FA Cup fifth round – ITV1

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 16 March – Newcastle v Liverpool (4.30pm) Carabao Cup final – Sky Sports