LONDON – Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock scored for the fifth successive match, but ended on the losing side as newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester City twice came from behind to edge a thriller 4-3 at St James’ Park on Friday night.
Arsenal loanee Willock, 21, who is eligible to represent Caribbean Football Union minnows Montserrat, put the hosts 3-2 up on 62 minutes having followed up after 35-year-old goalkeeper Scott Carson – almost 10 years since his last Premier League appearance – saved his initial spot-kick.
The goal took Willock’s tally for the season to nine – three of them in the Europa League for Arsenal before his loan move on February 1 – and Newcastle manager Steve Bruce hopes to keep him.
Willock caused City’s defence problems throughout and his acceleration caught Kyle Walker out with a poorly judged tackle to give the Magpies their second penalty of the evening.
But Newcastle were ultimately undone by Ferran Torres’ hat-trick for City, highlighted by a superb back-heel finish.
Said manager Bruce: “The one thing we needed to do was defend better. We’ve taken the lead a couple of times so we need to defend better. They’re such a good side but it’s disappointing that we didn’t take anything from it.”
Asked whether Newcastle can hold on to Willock, Bruce added: “We have to respect that Joe is Arsenal’s player, but if it’s possible we’d love to keep him.”
Emil Krafth’s powerful header from Jonjo Shelvey’s corner put the Magpies ahead on 25 minutes, but Joao Cancelo equalised with a deflected effort into the bottom right corner on 39 minutes, and when Torres expertly turned home Ilkay Gundogan’s free-kick 185 seconds later it looked as though the visitors might cut loose.
But the Magpies drew level deep into stoppage-time when Nathan Ake fouled Joelinton, allowing the Brazilian to score from the penalty spot.
After Willock put the Magpies back in front from the rebound, having insisted on taking the penalty to the obvious chagrin of Joelinton who had netted the earlier spot-kick, City replied with a quick-fire double salvo to secure victory.
Torres found the top right corner from Gabriel Jesus’ delivery on 64 minutes and two minutes later turned in a Cancelo shot that came back off the Newcastle post to secure City a new league record with their 12th consecutive victory away from home.
CMC