Against the background of Newcastle United’s attempt to park the Mourinho-esque bus against title contenders, Chelsea at St James Park last week, and in anticipation of them doing likewise against fellow title contenders, Manchester City yesterday, Guardiola was persuaded to field a lively-looking attacking line-up when the Magpies came to town.
Victims of 14 goals against in their last 3 visits to the Etihad, the scene was set for a goalfest, but the reality was it was far from that as the City juggernaut stuttered, looking far from comfortable against a team shorn of transfer funds and basically leaving their quality manager, Rafa Benitez to paddle his own canoe with the resources he’s got.