Manchester City were left with more questions than answers after their 2–1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park, and former Magpies striker Alan Shearer slams Pep Guardiola. He believes he is focusing on the wrong issues.
The Sky Blues, who had looked sharp before the international break, slipped to a damaging loss as Harvey Barnes struck twice in the second half to hand Newcastle a deserved victory.
The evening unravelled for City despite their dominance in possession. Gianluigi Donnarumma—under pressure from the opening whistle—kept City in the contest with a string of sharp saves, but once Barnes opened the scoring with a precise finish into the bottom corner, the momentum shifted.
City briefly hit back when Ruben Dias levelled the match with a deflected effort, yet the response was short-lived.
Barnes struck again from close range to restore Newcastle’s advantage, leaving Guardiola’s side chasing shadows for much of the closing stages.
The winning goal didn’t come without controversy. Video Assistant Referee checks dragged on as officials examined whether Bruno Guimaraes had been offside in the build-up.
City players also insisted Donnarumma had been impeded. But once the decision stood, Newcastle’s celebrations erupted, while City’s frustrations boiled over.
Guardiola confronted both Guimaraes and Joelinton after the final whistle, before turning his anger toward referee Sam Barrott.
The development made headlines and Alan Shearer slams Pep Guardiola, stating that his energy would be better spent evaluating his defence, not officials.
Shearer questions City’s defensive frailties
City had arrived in the North East riding the high of a comprehensive 3–0 win over Liverpool in their previous league match. But they failed to replicate that intensity at St James’ Park, where Newcastle’s direct play and relentless pressure repeatedly unsettled Guardiola’s side.
Shearer, speaking on Premier League Productions, said Guardiola’s frustrations were understandable but misdirected.
“I understand his frustration because his team have been beaten and well-beaten in that second half,” Shearer said according to Mirror
“They didn’t create a lot. He’s raw just after the game, he’s seen his team beaten in a really tough game, but for me the concern would be how many chances they are giving up, not any refereeing decisions or bad luck.”
The former Newcastle captain noted that City were fortunate not to concede more, and he emphasised the number of clear openings Newcastle failed to convert.
It was a night in which the home side’s intensity repeatedly exposed gaps in City’s defensive shape, and Shearer insisted that should alarm Guardiola more than the officiating.
“If Newcastle had their shooting boots on, they should have scored six or seven – they missed four absolute sitters. The way they carved City open would be a bigger concern for me.”
Newcastle’s pressing and direct wide play forced City into errors, and every misplaced pass seemed to spark a counterattack.
With Barnes’ pace and precision proving to be a threat throughout, City struggled to deal with transitions and often appeared a step slow in recovering their positions.
Guardiola’s frustration grows as Newcastle expose flaws
For Guardiola, the defeat comes at an inconvenient moment in the season, halting the momentum his team had begun to build.
He has repeatedly highlighted the physical demands placed on his squad and used officiating decisions in previous weeks as points of frustration.
- ‘Make It Make Sense!’ Furious Man City player slams Referee and VAR for ‘costly mistake’ in Newcastle defeat
- Newcastle 2-1 Man City: VAR under attack over a major mistake during the match
But on this occasion, his complaints overshadowed what was, for long stretches, an underwhelming performance from the Cityzens.
Donnarumma’s form in goal kept Newcastle within reach early on, but the cracks in City’s defensive setup widened as the match progressed.
Although Alan Shearer slams Pep Guardiola, the reaction from the touchline and the post-match tunnel confrontation highlighted Guardiola’s emotional investment. It also underscored the frustrations simmering beneath City’s surface.
Rather than a blip, the defeat at St James’ Park may serve as a warning sign that City’s defensive foundation needs reinforcement.
