Another game and another 2-0 defeat against another traditional big hitter. These matches against Man City, Manchester United and Liverpool serve as a reminder of how far Newcastle United have come in the last 12 months but, also, how far Eddie Howe's side still have to go.
Although Newcastle have not necessarily played badly in any of these reverses, there has been a recurring theme each week: the Magpies have simply not been sharp enough in both boxes. Saturday's loss against City was a case in point at the Etihad.
Newcastle may still have statistically the meanest defence in the Premier League, but no one could stop Phil Foden for City's opener on the quarter hour mark while Kieran Trippier sloppily gave the ball away in the build-up to Bernardo Silva's clincher midway through the second half.
