Controversial Game In Pics: Newcastle Utd v Manchester City

Newcastle United were robbed this afternoon after the referee ruled a Cheik Tiote goal offside before Negredo wrapped the game up for Manchester City with a second goal in the 95th minute. The game was fast paced for much of the first half and Mike Jones dished out six yellow cards throughout the match. There will be a thorough analysis of the game by Alan Pardew and his staff who will no doubt be requesting a full explanation from the referee team for a decision which most certainly had a huge impact on the game.

In the 33^rd minute Cheik Tiote put the ball in the back of the net with an awesome strike. The linesman flag stayed down until seconds later when the referee went for a quiet word. Low and behold the linesman then flagged Yoan Gouffran (who steered himself out of the way) offside (we think). The decision caused controversy as whilst three Newcastle players were offside none were interfering with play.

Bookings came thick and fast after the incident with Sissoko (37) Cabaye (38), Fernandinho (40) and Zabaleta (45) all being booked before the half time whistle.

Steven Taylor chaperoned the referee off the pitch at half time, before Pardew took up the role and challenged the referee - telling him his lines-man got the decision right, whilst he got it wrong. The referee failed to respond and so Pardew followed him down the tunnel repeating the question.

All out in the second half and Mike Jones continued to ensure he got camera time by booking Cheik Tiote (49) who was clearly still aggreived at not being given the equalising goal.

For City both Dzeko and Yaya Toure were taken off before the 60 minute mark. Dzeko was replaced by Navas (51) before Javi Garcia (60) came on for Toure.

Mapou Yanga-Mbwia added to the tally of yellow cards in the 74th minute after a tackle on Nasri who, after completing three very impressive rolls across the pitch before coming to a halt, required a stretcher to be taken to the sidelines.

The game was paused for 5 minutes whilst the medics treated the City midfielder who was replaced by James Milner.

Pardew took Yoan Gouffran off in the 80th minute and replaced him with Hatem Ben Arfa, at the same time as he replaced Yanga-Mbiwa with Massadio Haidara.

There were 7 Minutes of added time to compensate for the Nasri injury. Newcastle had two excellent chances in the first few minutes of added time before Negredo topped off a disappointing afternoon for Newcastle United by tapping the ball into the back of the net in the 95th minute.

Newcastle performed well throughout the game and a 2-0 defeat is a poor reflection of the game.