Brilliant brace for Barnes dents City's title dreams

Harvey Barnes fired Newcastle to a 2-1 Premier League victory over Manchester City with a quickfire double in a thrilling encounter at St James's Park.

- DAMIAN SPELLMAN

The former Leicester winger struck after 63 and 70 minutes either side of Ruben Dias's equaliser to secure a first league success against City for head coach Eddie Howe at the 19th attempt.

It could hardly have been better timed with Howe's men sitting in 15th place, just a single point above the relegation zone, before kickoff on Tyneside with a tough Champions League trip to Marseille to come on Tuesday evening.

It also leaves Premier League leaders Arsenal with the perfect opportunity to pull away from City, who could end the weekend seven points adrift of the top. The Gunners play Tottenham today in a hotly-anticipated north London derby.

The hosts almost got off to the perfect start when Joelinton pounced on Gianluigi Donnarumma's ill-judged pass to Phil Foden, only for Barnes to shoot straight at the keeper.

Erling Haaland was equally and uncharacteristically wasteful at the other end, scooping a left-foot effort harmlessly wide after being played through by Jeremy Doku.