Newcastle 1 Man City 1: Player ratings as Tiote returns to form and new boy shines again

The Magpies needed Vurnon Anita’s goal to secure a deserved point after Sergio Aguero’s controversial opener for City.

But Rafa Benitez will have been lifted by the recation of his players to going a goal down, and they were unlucky in the end not to take all three points.

Miles Starforth assesses the performances of the players.

Karl Darlow: Had no chance for Aguero’s goal, and dealt with everything else that came his way including two good second-half saves .....7

Vurnon Anita: Took his goal brilliantly and got up and down the right all night ..........7

Chancel Mbemba: Kept his head and put in a typically-composed and committed performance in the heart of Benitez’s defence ........7

Jamaal Lascelles: Led by example and put in another fearless performance alongside Mbemba ....7

Paul Dummett: Won tackle after tackle at left-back .....7

Andros Townsend: Ran himself into the ground and stretched City time and again .....8

Cheick Tiote: Never gave City a moment’s rest and looked more like the player United signed from Twente all those years ago .....8

Jack Colback: Steady performance in the centre of midfield .....6

Moussa Sissoko: Put in a powerful performance which was full of running, but should have done better with his best chance .....7

Ayoze Perez: More industrious than inventive after being recalled to the starting line-up ahead of Gini Wijnaldum .......7

Papiss Cisse: Put his one good chance early in the first half over the bar .......6

Aleksandar Mitrovic (for Cisse, 55): Put himself about and rattled City.......7/10

Georginio Wijnaldum (for Townsend, 80): Should have converted his late chance and given United all three points.....5/10

Rolando Aarons (for Perez, 90): Didn’t have time to make an impact...........6/10

Subs not used: Freddie Woodman, Henri Saivet, Jonjo Shelvey, Siem de Jong.

MANCHESTER CITY: Joe Hart 6, Pablo Zabaleta 6, Vincent Kompany 6, Eliquim Mangala 6, Aleksandar Kolarov 6, Fernando 6, Fabian Delph 5, Jesus Navas 5, Yaya Toure 5, Kevin De Bruyne 7, Sergio Aguero 7.

Subs: Raheem Sterling (for Delph, 68, 5), Fernandinho (for Toure, 73, 6), Wilfried Bony (for Navas, 84, 6).

Subs not used: Willy Caballero, Martin Demichelis, Nicolas Otamendi, Kelechi Iheanacho.

REFEREE

Kevin Friend (Leicestershire): Got a number of decisions wrong, and wasn’t helped by one of his linesman......4/10

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