Clotet’s friendly fire as pens go
ON January 29, Manchester City’s shock defeat at Newcastle inspired them to the title.
Ten months on, they drew against the same opposition but this result feels far more damaging with their Premier League crown now hanging by the slenderest of threads.
City’s reaction to last season’s setback was to win their remaining 14 league games. They could win their next 24 and it would probably not be enough, not that Pep Guardiola’s side look capable of putting together a similar run.
Liverpool old boy Jonjo Shelvey did the damage with an 88th-minute equaliser, finding the net with a 22-yard piledriver after a well-worked free-kick by Christian Atsu.
Six minutes earlier, Kevin de Bruyne had looked like earning City a crucial, yet barely deserved, win with a breathtaking effort.
After Paul Dummett headed away a cross from Benjamin Mendy, the Belgian took the ball on his chest before crashing home an unstoppable shot off the underside of the bar.
City’s wild celebrations showed their relief but Shelvey wiped the smile off their faces.
Guardiola, predictably, didn’t want to discuss their flagging title prospects but was surprisingly upbeat about the performance.
“We just have to win games and see what happens,” said the Spaniard, who wasn’t happy with Fernandinho’s foul on Javier Manquillo leading to that late leveller.
“But the way we played showed we wanted to win the game and we did everything we could to do so. It is not easy when they defend big and solid with 10 players in the box.
“We should have avoided that free-kick at the end but still created enough chances to win.”
The possession stats may point to a one-sided contest but that was far from the case, especially after Jetro Willems had cancelled out Raheem Sterling’s 22nd-minute opener within three minutes.
Toon closed down space and squeezed City’s frontmen meaning that despite the visitors having around 75 per cent of the ball, only occasionally did they look a threat.
Delighted Newcastle boss Steve Bruce said: “To come back twice against a side like City bodes well. That’s Jonjo’s second goal in three games and I’ve been very pleased with him and the way he’s responded to what we’ve asked of him.”
Newcastle’s strategy was all about using the pace of Miguel Almiron and the ball wizardry of Allan Saint-Maximin.
The Frenchman is a thrilling sight on the charge and these twin weapons meant the Magpies were always dangerous on the counter, though Willems’ second goal of the season exposed City’s defensive deficiencies.
He was given far too much time to control Almiron’s pass inside before hammering a low drive past Ederson.
It was a toss-up who was more pleased – the goalscorer or his team-mate who, at the 24th attempt, finally has an assist to his name.
City had broken the deadlock with a goal which combined good fortune and artistry. Two ricochets favoured them but there was no doubting the deftness of David Silva’s flick nor the technique in Sterling’s finish.
But Newcastle were never intimidated by City’s pretty patterns. They still had to defend stoutly while the visitors will rue several chances which got away.
In the 68th minute, Martin Dubravka did brilliantly to foil both Gabriel Jesus and De Bruyne at point-blank range while moments after coming off the bench, Bernardo Silva dragged a shot horribly wide.
Then at the death, De Bruyne dropped the ball at the feet of Sterling but the Toon keeper was down quickly to deny him.
PEP CLOTET extended the hand of friendship to a former Birmingham manager but must have felt like shaking a fist as Gary Rowett’s Millwall left with a point.
Current Blues boss Clotet was the target of a verbal attack from his predecessor Garry Monk in midweek.
Monk, now in charge at Sheffield Wednesday, refused to shake hands after the match.
Clotet made a veiled reference to that in his programme notes as he said: “I love that tradition here in England. Call me a romantic – all rivalries and personal opinions put aside.”
Millwall came within 11 minutes of taking all three points after a breakaway which saw Shaun Williams convert a Jed Wallace cross.
But the home side refused to buckle and Chelsea loan defender Jake Clarke-Salter’s header rescued a draw.
Clotet was convinced his side were robbed of two penalty decisions, a claim laughed off by Rowett.
The Spaniard accused Jake Cooper of a shirt tug on Alvaro
Gimenez and a second foul on Clarke-Salter.
Clotet said: “The one on Alvaro is very clear, a penalty and red card.
“Jake is the same – he is pulled in the box.”
Rowett said: “Two penalties? Blimey, I don’t think he should have had one.
“If you are the home manager and have not created many chances that’s what you say.”
Birmingham fans found a new hero in goalkeeper Connal Trueman, 23, a Blues academy product.
When Jed Wallace pinged over a cross, it had goal written all over it but Trueman somehow got down to Matt Smith’s header then followed it up by pushing out a Ben Thompson volley.