Arrow, arrow, we are the Geordie boys

Newcastle's stuttering Premier League season burst into life at Gallowgate on Saturday night, thanks to a pair of timely second half strikes from Harvey Barnes.

The United winger had twice gone close to putting the hosts ahead before the break, but made no mistake when a third, more difficult chance came his way in the 63rd minute - sending a scorching shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

That lead was to be short-lived however; Ruben Dias firing through the legs of Fabian Schar following a corner at the Leazes End to draw City level within just five minutes.

Eight minutes after his opener, Barnes was reaching into his invisible quiver once again in celebration of another goal, this one from much closer range after a header by Bruno Guimaraes hit the crossbar.

The scorer and home fans endured a five minute wait until VAR dismissed two potential offside claims, City also moaning in vain about interference on Donnarumma after Sandro Tonali's corner kick that began the sequence and an alleged foul by Nick Woltemade as Jacob Murphy centred from the right.

Retrospective City claims regarding a foul on Bert Trautmann as Jackie Milburn scored in the 1955 FA Cup Final and Tino Asprilla sticking the nut on Keith Curle at Maine Road remain pending....

Much of the build-up to this game had dwelt on the fact that City's Erling Haaland was on 99 Premier League goals, but it was Eddie Howe who ended the day as a centurion - celebrating a 100th league and cup victory shortly after beginning his fifth year in charge of the Magpies and defeating City in aa league game for the first time in his entire managerial career.

Persisting with the same front six that had started the 1-3 loss at Brentford before the international break, Howe also retained Nick Pope but was able to call upon Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento at left and right back respectively.

Missing Dan Burn due to suspension after his dismissal at Brentford, Fabian Schar was preferred to Sven Botman alongside Malick Thiaw, the Dutchman coming off the bench to join them late on after Hall's withdrawal - Jacob Murphy dropping back.

Having spoken about trying to achieve a reset of his team's season during the last international break and sat through hours of game footage in an attempt to do so, the Magpies boss drew a heartening response from his players that was in stark contrast to the dross of West Ham and Brentford.

That almost got off to an incredible start when Barnes tested Donnarumma after just 25 seconds - Woltemade seeing a shot and a header saved before Barnes wastefully blazed wide on the half hour.

At the other end Haaland put City's first chance wide, Phil Foden also twice failing to test Pope with the United goal at his mercy - one of those off-target shots followed by a failed VAR check for a penalty after Schar caught him on the ankle - Craig Pawson showing leniency on us for once.

Barnes understandably took the plaudits for his goals and getting in the position to try and score, resulting in the biggest intervention by a player of that name in a game by these two sides since Peter in the 1976 League Cup Final. It was very far from a one man show however.

Sandro Tonali was back to his best and Thiaw expertly handled the threat of Haaland on a day when the entire Newcastle team looked to have been boosted by the return of the full back duo.