"Whenever you come here you know you are going to concede chances, you just hope they have an off day when it comes to their finishing.

"You hope you will get chances the other way and unfortunately we have not taken them. So it is a mix of things that has gone against us.

"We had the first big chance in the game, we didn’t take it and the scoreline looks harsh, but Manchester City will probably have a different view on it.

"City can do that to anybody, they're that good. The crowd were very good for them as well, it was a good atmosphere.

"Individually we didn't get the details right today, we lost a runner for the first goal and conceded from two set plays which, when you think of all the ways they can score against you, that's a no-go.

"There's a huge gap between us and City or Liverpool, but I'd say there's the same gap between most clubs in the Premier League.

"Whenever you come here, you know you are going to concede chances. We had the first big chance of the game, unfortunately we did not take it.

"Joe (Willock) has had a knee problem for a couple of months. We felt it was gone but it came back against Liverpool last week, so it looks like his season is over.

"Jonjo (Shelvey) has a calf injury, which is quite similar to the one he had at the start of this season, so it looks like both players are out for the season.

"I think every summer I’ve been in management, I’ve had to make difficult decisions at the end of the season. Players that you love and have a great relationship with, sometimes have to leave for the benefit of the team.

"This season will be no different. I’m sure there’ll be players that will move on, who have represented the club in a brilliant way. Those decisions can wait until the end of the season. For me now, it’s about making judgements and assessments on everybody I’m working with.

"The training ground is a hugely important place for me, so I’m making judgements there, and then of course on days like today, I’m making judgements on players’ futures, based on what I see. I think that’s natural."

On City's Cancelo:

"He’s one of the best full-backs in the world, playing in one of the best teams in the world. City are always interchanging and giving you problems in different areas, that happened all game and it’s why they are what they are.

"First half we struggled in the wide areas, but I’m reluctant to be too hard on my team at the moment."

On returning duo Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson:

"I thought they showed what they can give us when they came on. Kieran immediately put two or three brilliant crosses into the box, real quality from the wide areas, and Callum had his one v one and his chance from Maxi’s. I thought he looked bright as well.

"They actually contributed to probably our best spell in the game immediately when they came onto the pitch. Massive boost for everyone connected to Newcastle to see them back.

"They are two huge players for us and we have missed them, albeit the players in their absence stepped up fantastically well and I have to compliment the full squad in that. Yeah, great to have them both back."

Back in black....& white

Pep Guardiola:

"I am very pleased - perfect afternoon. Before the start of the game I felt in our crowd that they were disappointed, but not sad about who we are as a team and what we have done in the last five years every three days.

"Three more points. Three games left and one competition to play and big problems behind because we have just three defenders for these three games.

"We are going to try and do it. Now after what happened with Liverpool and with us today, Wednesday became a final. It is an absolute final and I am pretty sure we will prepare well to try and beat them.

"Sometimes I say to the players you have to play good to lift the fans to let the opponent know here is not a nice place to come.

"Today we didn’t need to do that. That means, because the people are not stupid, they know these guys do it every three days for five years like today.

"They deserve it. They are one of the best groups I have ever had in my life as a manager, even as a player.

"It is an important three points after Liverpool and Tottenham, but anything can happen in football. If it can happen in 56 seconds in Madrid it can happen in three games.

"Ruben (Dias), Kyle (Walker) and John (Stones) are out until the end of the season. Next season they will be ready. In this situation it is not a problem. If Rodri has to play in that position it is not a problem, or if it’s someone from the academy.

"We have 13 players available for these players, even with the academy. When we do that everyone has to do more. It is not a problem. That’s what we did second half. Fernandinho played good against (Callum) Wilson.

"That’s what we have to do."

Following defeat to second-placed Liverpool that was rather more emphatic than a 0-1 scoreline may suggest, the margin of Newcastle's loss to a Manchester City side closing in on the title slightly flattered the hosts.

We've been here before though of course - an entirely predictable Sunday afternoon at the Etihad Stadium ended with Newcastle on the wrong end of their heaviest defeat since visiting the same venue in 2020.

COVID-inspired ground closures meant that Toon followers endured that 0-5 loss via TV, but a sold-out 3,000 away section were here today as City took up where they left off when winning 0-4 at Gallowgate six months ago.

The opening exchanges suggested that Pep Guardiola's side may just have a hint of a hangover from their midweek Champions League semi-final loss to Real Madrid - prompting something of a back-handed compliment from home fans singing "where were you when you were sh*t?"

Newcastle made and missed the first clear chance on eight minutes, but Chris Wood headed meekly into the arms of Ederson with the equally unmarked Joelinton lurking behind, and possibly even better-placed.

Sadly City became more expansive and went ahead on 19 minutes when Raheem Sterling headed in from close range and normal service unfortunately seemed to be restored here.

That wasn't quite the end of it from a Magpie perspective though; the ball ending up in the City net via Wood following a 24th minute corner, only for Bruno to be correctly deemed offside.

City doubled their lead seven minutes before the interval when Martin Dubravka was unable to gather Ilkay Gundogan's shot and Aymeric Laporte smashed it into the net.

A 0-2 half time deficit made a comeback unlikely rather than impossible, although a needless booking for Bruno diminished the effectiveness of a midfield already shorn of injured duo Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock.

It was game over long before City made it three through Rodri from Man of the match Kevin de Bruyne's corner just after the hour though; extended sequences of keep ball demoralising United.

The home support upped the noise levels at that point; "championees" ringing around the stadium as City took the chance offered to them by Liverpool dropping points the night before to pull clear at the top of the table.

That was also the signal for Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier to appear from the bench following their absences due to injury.

Still United's top scorer despite missing our last 16 Premier League games, Wilson could have marked his return with a goal, but was unable to finish either of two opportunities.

His arrival and Trippier's though almost immediately made the side look more mobile and threatening than with Wood at the business end - and it's worth mentioning that this was the first time Wilson has shared a pitch with any of our mid-season acquisitions, having limped out of the action in December.

A consolation goal proved to be beyond us though and the relentless passing game of City brought further late dividends. Close range strikes from Phil Foden and Sterling added some gloss to the final score as the hosts belatedly took the opportunity to boost what could still be a vital goal difference.

However this was as systematic a dismantling as you'll find: a genuine gulf in class evident in the meeting of Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia-funded clubs.

As was the case against Liverpool a week earlier, there was no shock or disgrace in losing to prestigious opposition - but again a feeling of individual opportunities missed to put in real landmark displays. Despite the lack of points-related pressure, we didn't quite put our best feet forward - hopefully there's something left in the tank to have a good go at the Gunners.

Exiting the Gents in the away end post-match, a slightly inebriated chap announced to nobody in particular that we were "a million miles away" from competing with the team that had just crushed us. 

That phrase had come to prominence about this time back in 2008, when an exasperated Kevin Keegan responded to seeing his Newcastle side beaten 2-0 by Chelsea with that soundbite, challenging Mike Ashley to bankroll him if he had realistic aspirations of improving on the twelfth spot they held then.

KK's comments that day would ultimately result in his exit from the club and a later court action against them - but 14 years later, the current owner and manager are united in their ambitions at taking the club forward.

That's reflected in social media content from the owners and highlighted in post-match quotes from Howe here; underlining that significant and overdue alterations to the squad are imminent. That may have been crystallised today, with the cull extending far beyond the likes of Hendrick and Clark following a first-hand reminder of what we are really up against at the sharp end.

After the giddiness of recent weeks, successive defeats against the current top two may have injected some reality to the situation we are in, trying to right the sizeable wrongs of the previous regime. 

Given the plight we were in at the turn of the year, a mid table finish this season is a massive improvement, but pushing on to the summit without making base camp in the top half is unrealistic.

Back to Keegan's comments in 2008, he also spoke about trying to win what he called "the second league in the Premiership" by finishing behind what at the time were the big four. For 2008 read 2023. 

Biffa