Newcastle 1-3 Manchester City: Barnes 18; Savinho 39, Marmoush 47, 65
With an early lead at St James’ Park it looked like Newcastle might have exactly what they dreamed of the night before: a win over Manchester City to keep their cup ambitions going.
Languishing in 12th place in the Premier League, Eddie Howe’s Champions League side desperately need something to inject some positivity into this season. Come May, what will be said of Newcastle’s season? They made it to the Champions League last 16 but so did many unlikely teams and every other English side, including Tottenham who are currently in a relegation battle.
Judging by their performances so far this term, it is difficult to envision a scenario where Newcastle defeat Barcelona in a double-header and make it to the quarter-finals. Howe warned earlier this season that given their poor position in the Premier League standings, winning another cup competition was imperative.
They crashed out of the Carabao Cup after losing home and away to City, and here at St James’ Park in the FA Cup fifth round, despite taking that early lead through Harvey Barnes they lost again. Savinho hit back and then Omar Marmoush scored a brace to seal the victory, making it the fourth time in a row Newcastle have lost to City this season. So where to go from here?
Pep loved what he saw 🥰 pic.twitter.com/hIPazhcp1E
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 7, 2026
Pep Guardiola, with an eye on his side’s engagement with Real Madrid next week, left Erling Haaland in Manchester, citing a need to rest. In his place was Marmoush, flanked by Savinho and Jeremy Doku.
Newcastle fired the first shot when Sandro Tonali pierced City’s backline in search of Barnes, who cut inside and curled the ball beyond the despairing James Trafford. City tried to respond quickly and as their opponents’ initial drive seemed to slow City’s own technical superiority began to show.
Doku’s mazy run ended with a cross from the byline that hit Savinho and bobbled into the net. There was more City in the second half. Matheus Nunes took the ball on the overlap and hit a dangerous cross that found Marmoush, who controlled the ball and then fired it in.
Howe introduced Joelinton, Dan Burn and Yoane Wissa as he tried to stem the tide but matters only worsened. Soon after the hour, Marmoush delivered the knockout blow from another Nunes delivery, finding the top corner as City reigned supreme.
