WINGER Anthony Gordon was the man of the moment for Newcastle, winning and converting a penalty to give them a well-deserved point against the champions.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: “That’s our best display of the season both with and without the ball, no doubt. We were committed and brave. Anthony epitomised that determination.”

City were nowhere near their best in the early exchanges. Passes went astray, their tempo was low. They offered no real threat. And then, just like that, they were ahead.

Jack Grealish turned his England colleague Kieran Trippier and found Josko Gvardiol in the box. He shimmied past Dan Burn, who expected the first-time shot, and slid a careful right-footed shot across keeper Nick Pope.

At that point it looked like Pep Guardiola’s team might take control, ease through the gears and leave their opponents trailing in their rear-view mirror. But their lethargy remained, Newcastle held on and got their reward early in the second half. 

Just before the hour mark, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes played the ball into space for Gordon to run on to. With only goalie Ederson Santana de Moraes to beat, he took a couple of touches, the second slightly heavy. As he rounded the keeper, the Newcastle man left his trailing foot in and collapsed to the ground. 

To say he bought the penalty is an understatement, he’ll be making monthly repayments for years to come. Yet, there was clear contact. Rightly or wrongly, these are now given. Referee Jarred Gillett had little hesitation in pointing to the spot, booking the City keeper into the bargain. Guardiola wagged his finger in disgust.

Gordon stepped up to the spot and made no mistake, it was no less than Newcastle deserved.

Arguably they had a more clear-cut penalty appeal just minutes later, Newcastle’s Joelinton Cassio Apolinario de Lira was brought to the ground by Kyle Walker, but Gillett waved away their appeals and VAR did not intervene.

City still had chances to seal the victory, Bernardo Silva in particular drawing a fantastic save from Pope. Yet Newcastle are masters at clinging on to any foothold they have. This draw extended their home unbeaten run to 11. At the end of the season, City may look at this as a point earned, not two lost.