Eddie Howe asked about the match officials after Manchester City defeat…

Eddie Howe watched from the sidelines as his Newcastle United team lost to Manchester City.

Losing at the Etihad is not a new thing.

However, Newcastle United played really well and came close to getting the point they deserved.

Amongst the factors that contributed to the final result, it was difficult not to feel aggrieved at the fact that United got such a raw deal from the match officials.

Obviously nowhere near the levels of the joke that was Aston Villa in the FA Cup the previous weekend.

However, any number of decisions not going the way of Newcastle United at the Etihad.

Eddie Howe asked about yet another poor showing from match officials: “I don’t think we were on the right end of the decisions today but I don’t want to go down that road. I am not one of those managers that wants to continually criticise officials but I thought, again, it was one that we probably didn’t get the right end of the decisions.”

Newcastle United lost 2-1 but very little in the game as NUFC gave as good as they got.

Eddie Howe pleased with a lot of what he saw, especially with such a packed schedule of games and whilst Manchester City had a full week to prepare (and brought nine first choice players back in), Newcastle started with ten of the leven who played in Azerbaijan on Wednesday night.

The United boss: “Considering everything we have put into the last few weeks, that was a good performance. Wasn’t good enough [in the end to get the three points] but we went toe to toe with them. We were equals in the game, we were well in it. Didn’t defend the two goals well enough, that’s the disappointment really. Belief was there right until the end, that Harvey Barnes shot at the end which was a good save. You never quite know how the game will pan out but it is important that you start well and the last few times we have come here, we have conceded early.”

The way Eddie Howe set his team up and the way the Newcastle United players implemented the Head Coach’s plan, made life difficult for Pep Guardiola and his team.

Eddie Howe commenting: “A good effort physically as it has been a tough run of fixtures. I want the players to empty, to give everything in the pursuit of winning. I thought that we played with a good plan. The two goals we didn’t defend well enough, two errors. But I’m pleased with the effort.”

It had been three away victories in a row in three different competitions with United in great form.

However, whilst they played well again, the fact is that defeat at the Etihad leaves Newcastle mid-table and the Champions League places a distance away.

Eddie Howe admitting: “The league table isn’t what we wanted it to be. In part, it’s not based on tonight. We are heading in the right direction, that is the most important thing, because it means long-term we’re going to be fine. We are trying to win every game, not trying to over think games. We don’t want to lose momentum. The feeling has been strong, togetherness is strong, you could see that in the second half. Overall, the players are all out, doing the best for this football club.”