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Newcastle dent Man City’s title bid with controversial 2-1 victory

Published

2 weeks ago

November 23, 2025

Admin

Newcastle dented Manchester City’s Premier League title challenge as Harvey Barnes’ brace sealed a controversial 2-1 victory on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s side trailed to Barnes’ second-half opener at St James’ Park before Ruben Dias equalised for the visitors.

Moments after Dias levelled, Barnes bagged Newcastle’s contentious second goal, which was allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR check for a potential offside against Bruno Guimaraes.

Guardiola was also aggrieved over a first-half penalty claim by Phil Foden.

City’s fourth league defeat this season left them in third place, four points behind leaders Arsenal, who host Tottenham on Sunday.

Guardiola said it was too early to talk about the title race this week, but the City boss will be hugely frustrated to miss the chance to put pressure on Arsenal.

City went into the international break with a 3-0 victory over troubled champions Liverpool that made it seven wins from eight games in all competitions.

But they squandered that momentum in an error-strewn display on Tyneside as Erling Haaland was held without a goal for only the third time in 21 matches for City and Norway this season.

Haaland was hoping to score his 100th league goal in his 109th appearance since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

But he wasted several chances and Newcastle took advantage to beat City for just the second time in their last 36 league meetings.

Eddie Howe’s first win over City in 19 top-flight attempts eased the pain of Newcastle’s successive league defeats at West Ham and Brentford before the international break.

City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma nearly gifted Newcastle the lead inside 30 seconds with a woeful pass that was intercepted by Barnes, but the winger wasted the chance as he shot straight at the Italian from 10 yards.

– Profligate City –

Haaland was guilty of an equally bad miss moments later, scuffing his attempt to chip over Nick Pope after the Newcastle keeper reacted to Jeremy Doku’s pass by rashly racing out of his area.

Newcastle were denied the opener by Donnarumma, who superbly kept out Nick Woltemade’s header from Tino Livramento’s cross.

Foden blazed wide from a good position inside the area before appealing in vain for a penalty after Fabian Schar left him writhing in pain with a crunching tackle in the same incident.

Foden and City’s coaching staff were furious with the decision, their frustration mounting when Jacob Murphy avoided conceding a spot-kick after blocking Doku’s shot with his arm.

Donnarumma won another duel with Woltemade as he repelled the German’s strike after he burst through on goal.

In a half of poor finishing, Barnes was guilty of the worst moment when he contrived to shoot wide from close range with the goal at his mercy.

Even Haaland was off the mark, flicking Nico O’Reilly’s cross straight at Pope from five yards.

Remarkably, the unmarked Foden produced a worse miss, dragging wide from Rayan Cherki’s pass just before half-time.

City finally cracked as Barnes made amends for his earlier misses with a fine finish in the 64th minute, lashing a low drive past Donnarumma from the edge of the area after Guimaraes’ run and pass prised open the defence.

Guardiola’s men trailed for just four minutes.

Bernardo Silva’s shot was blocked towards Dias and the Portugal defender’s powerful strike from 12 yards deflected in off Schar.

But Dias’s first league goal since he scored at Newcastle four years ago sparked an immediate response from Howe’s side.

When Woltemade guided his header across goal, Guimaraes nodded against the bar and the rebound fell to Barnes to volley home.

The long VAR check for offside against Guimaraes seemed to favour City but it eventually went in Newcastle’s favour as the Magpies faithful hailed a memorable victory.

AFP

News

PHOTOS: FCT Minister, Wike, inspects ongoing construction of Interchange Bridge, Road linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi with Gwarinpa today

Published

57 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

ADMIN

The Minister of FCT today inspected ongoing construction of Interchange Bridge, Road linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi with Gwarinpa today

The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike today, Friday inspected ongoing construction of Interchange Bridge, Road linking Maitama, Gishiri, Jahi with Gwarinpa.

The project is titled; Full scope development of Arterial Road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road II to Ring Road III with Two Interchange Bridges at N16/RRII and N16/RIII intersections.

The portion from RRI to Arterial Road N20 (Solomon Lar Way) within Katampe District was developed and commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to mark 2nd year Anniversary of his Administration.

The portion from N20 to RRII is being developed under Jahi District Infrastructure Project, leaving the undeveloped portion from RRIII to Arterial Road N40 to link the road that leads to the Renewed Hope Estate in Karsana Districts.

The portion of this Arterial Road N16 under reference traverses the Gwarimpa Housing Estate and this segment of the road when developed will provide access to the Gwarimpa Housing Estate located within Bunkoro and Wupa Districts as well as Sector Center E which is the hub of commercial and social activities comprising group of four districts namely; Gwarimpa II – C03, Kafe – C05, Wupa – C15 and Bunkoro – C18 Districts in Phase III of the Federal Capital City.

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News

“Why I dumped PDP for APC “- Rivers Speaker, Amaewhule

Published

2 hours ago

December 5, 2025

ADMIN

The Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Martin Amaewhule, on Friday gave reasons why he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The major reason for leaving the PDP is because of the division in the PDP,” Amaewhule, who represents Obio-Akpor I constituency, told the lawmakers on Friday.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for some programmes embarked upon by his administration that have benefited Nigerians, especially Rivers people.

According to the Speaker, his defection would enable him to partner with President Tinubu for the overall good of the Rivers people.

Amaewhule said, “Distinguished colleagues, let me happily announce to honourable members that your Speaker, Rt Hon Martin Chike Amaewhule, has decided and has indeed written to my Ward Chairman, Mr Osondo Orlu, of my decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party.

“APC is my new party. I will do all that is needed to be done towards ensuring that the party card of the All Progressives Congress is issued to me in no time. I am happy to be a member of the APC so that we can join forces with Mr President. He is doing so much for this country.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria. He is tackling issues of security headlong. The President has shown love to Rivers State; he is helping Rivers people to be part of the governance of this country. I am so delighted to be part of the APC so we can support the President right inside the All Progressives Congress.”

Amaewhule defected along with 15 other members of the House on Friday.

Also included were Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).

Since returning to civil rule in 1999, the PDP has maintained a tight grip on the oil-rich Rivers state, until the protracted crisis rocked the state, which pitched the lawmakers against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The crisis led to the partial demolition of the State Assembly complex by forces allegedly loyal to Fubara as well as the attempted moves to impeach the governor by the lawmakers loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Worried by the development, President Bola Tinubu waded in to douse the tensions and declared a state of emergency on March 18.

The emergency declaration led to the suspension of Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu and the lawmakers.

At the expiration of the exercise, he reinstated Fubara, his deputy and the lawmakers on September 17.

News

Finally Rivers Speaker, 15 Other Assembly Members Dump PDP , join APC

Published

4 hours ago

December 5, 2025

ADMIN

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, defected along with 15 other members of the House on Friday.

Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, defected to the All Progressives Congress.

Amaewhule defected along with 15 other members of the House on Friday.

The House of Assembly is currently in session with the defectors blaming their departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the crisis in the party.

Others who dumped the PDP were the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol (Gokana), Major Jack (Akuku-Toru), Linda Stewart (Okrika), Franklin Nwabochi (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Azeru Opara (Port Harcourt 3), Smart Adoki (Port Harcourt 2), Enemi George (Asari-Toru 2), and Solomon Wami (Port Harcourt 1).
Also included were Igwe Aforji (Eleme), Tekena Wellington (Asari-Toru 1), Looloo Opuende (Akuku-Toru 2), Peter Abbey (Degema), Arnold Dennis (Ogu/Bolo), Chimezie Nwankwo (Etche), and Ofiks Kabang (Andoni).

Details shortly…