🔗 Share this article

The Newcastle manager had tested various strategies.

The Newcastle United head coach previously deployed sides who pressed Manchester City aggressively. He tried alternative approaches with teams that dropped deeper. Various tactical setups were attempted, none proving successful.

It reached the point where Howe was only partially joking when he stated "we don't have anything new left" before Saturday's match.

But he discovered a solution.

Following a bruising loss at Brentford, the Magpies urgently needed to bounce back, The Newcastle management created a blueprint to finally defeat Guardiola's team.

The strategy paid dividends with a 2-1 win in front of a passionate home crowd giving Howe his maiden win over Guardiola's Manchester City in league competition.

"I've got lists and lists of things that haven't worked against them so I could probably tell you what doesn't," Howe revealed. "Identifying successful tactics requires minimal documentation, but we learn from each experience and make adjustments. That's what we did."

'I don't believe in radical overhauls'

The groundwork began after Newcastle's recent 3-1 loss at Brentford.

Howe dedicated countless hours analyzing match footage, reviewing training sessions and seeking solutions to what has been an inconsistent campaign.

With a smaller squad during the international period, the team worked on restoring "their vitality and movement".

Important modifications were made specifically for the City match.

Captain Bruno Guimaraes was assigned a central role in the midfield three, where Sandro Tonali had been positioned for most of the past year, while returning full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento started together for the first time since September and made a substantial impact.

Defender Fabian Schar earned his first league start since autumn, coming in for Sven Botman.

Despite the changes, Howe avoided dramatic overhauls and preserved his trusted 4-3-3 setup while two adjustments were enforced due to the absence of injured players Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon.

The majority of players who featured at Brentford and, indeed, in the damaging defeat at West Ham, were given opportunities to redeem themselves.

"I don't support the idea of tearing everything down," Howe declared. "Unless you're in absolute panic mode, which we're not, and I don't believe in that style of leadership anyway.

"I'm confident in identifying our best performers and aim to give them maximum chances to showcase their abilities through guidance and development opportunities."

Barnes Rises to the Occasion

Nevertheless, adjustments were clearly necessary.

Prior to this game, only Wolves and Leeds United had netted fewer Premier League goals than Newcastle.

High-profile acquisition Nick Woltemade had looked disconnected, receiving inadequate support, especially on the road.

While Woltemade was on international duty with Germany, Newcastle practiced varied attacking patterns around their striker such as Barnes and Jacob Murphy, to maximize his effectiveness upon return.

Newcastle certainly created opportunities for Woltemade on Saturday, who was denied on three occasions by Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Although Newcastle had become too Woltemade-focused, other attackers have emerged as reliable options.

Especially Barnes.

Barnes wasted crucial opportunities before halftime - even missing from close range - and acknowledged he wasn't "the most appreciated player" at intermission.

Yet Barnes didn't just score the opener with a quality finish from range in the second period, he netted the decider shortly after City drew level via Ruben Dias.

Newcastle had been ahead versus Arsenal, Brentford and West Ham but surrendered their leads.

Yet they remained resilient after City's equalizer and throughout eight minutes of added time.

This was an evening when Newcastle won more tackles and aerial duels, and made more blocks than their opponents.

Although Manchester City controlled possession, which naturally affects the statistics, Newcastle stood firm and made nearly twice as many clearances (36) and restricted the visitors to just four shots on target.

That defensive performance impressed former Newcastle defender Jonathan Woodgate.

"Without the ball they were magnificent, complicating City's efforts to penetrate defensive lines," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "After halftime I viewed them as the better side, repeatedly threatening City on breaks and netting two superb Barnes goals. What a spectacular game."

Fortress St James' Park

Nevertheless, is this outcome at a vibrant St James' Park truly astonishing?

Just Manchester City (13) have secured more home Premier League victories than Newcastle (11) this year.

From the start of the previous campaign, Newcastle have recorded eight victories, two draws and only two defeats at home against top opponents including City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, United and Spurs.

Nonetheless, on their travels, Newcastle haven't secured a league victory since spring.

This accounts for their position just one point clear of the bottom three prior to Saturday's important win.

"While I'd like to assert that supporters shouldn't affect player performance, it completely changes dynamics," Howe admitted. "We have to discover ways to create positivity in road games without spectator backing.

"That's our responsibility to resolve, whether through system adjustments, personnel changes. Whatever proves necessary, we must dedicate ourselves to identifying solutions."