Newcastle are in serious trouble at the bottom of the Premier League. They are finding wins hard to come by, and a game against defending champions Man City was always going to be a tall order. The game got off to the worst possible start, as Ciaran Clark made a serious error and City went 1-0 up inside five minutes.
Jamie Carragher appeared on Sky's coverage of the game, and he went in on the Ireland defender at half-time for his role in both of Manchester City's goals.
Ciaran Clark howler Newcastle vs Man City
City went into the game top of the Premier League table and off the back of a 7-0 win over Leeds midweek. The priority for Newcastle ahead of the game would surely have been to attempt to contain one of the most potent attacks in Europe.
Within five minutes, any hope of containing City had gone out the window after a bizarre misunderstanding between Ciaran Clark and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka led to Ruben Dias sneaking in to score the opener.
FIVE MINUTES IN ⚡
Ruben Dias puts #MCFC in front!
Horrendous defending from #NUFC 😦
📺 Watch #NEWMCI live on Sky Sports PL pic.twitter.com/QlMSl1auAT— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 19, 2021
It was a moment Clark will want to forget, as he let the ball drift past him and left his keeper in no-man's land. Dias' task was simple, as he headed the ball past a stranded Dubravka.
The Newcastle defence was slated at half-time by Sky Sports' panel. Jermain Defoe could not believe the lack of action from Clark, before former Liverpool centre back Jamie Carragher gave his take on the incident.
He's just got to head it. It's absolutely shocking that so early in the game.
Listen, you could argue they're both at fault. I've been in that position at times, you've just got to head it away. This is Ciaran Clark who was involved in the Norwich goal as well - that's just a terrible start.
They're just not good enough defensively.
WHAT A GOAL!! 🤩
João Cancelo doubles #MCFC's lead with a sensational strike ☄️
📺 Watch #NEWMCI live on Sky Sports PL pic.twitter.com/JtqRGhBVbg— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 19, 2021
That wasn't all for Clark. Joao Cancelo's stunning second for City was facilitated by a huge amount of space in the Newcastle defence, and Carragher thought that the Irish defender and his defensive partner Jamaal Lascelles should have done more to close down the Portuguese full back.
Cancelo comes inside of the last man. The two centre-backs, Lascelles and Ciaran Clark - he has time to take another touch! It's unbelievable. The gap...both of them turning their back...that's nothing to do with ability.
Defensively, you've got to throw yourself at it, make yourself as big as possible. The two of them are as small as possible.
Harsh words, but Newcastle's defensive play against Manchester City was shocking to watch.
They went in at half-time 2-0 down, after a horror show first half for Ciaran Clark and co.
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