Manchester City vs Newcastle live updates Find Out

Newcastle United are 10th in the 20-team Premier League. For many other clubs in many other seasons, that would represent one giant, “meh” — the very definition of mid-table mediocrity.

Not for head coach Eddie Howe and his team, however. Their 2023-24 has been a compilation of soaring highs and crushing lows, with misfortune a constant companion, often at Newcastle’s invitation.

The loss at Chelsea was deflating and familiar. Last season’s team of front-footed swarmers are routinely making life difficult for themselves and easy for their opponents.

Before today’s daunting trip to Man City, The Athletic’s Chris Waugh and George Caulkin assess what has gone wrong since the summer, where things stand and what they expect from the final two months of the campaign…

Haji Wright hailed Coventry City’s belief after the USMNT forward scored a 100th-minute winner to eliminate Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers from the FA Cup.

Coventry had trailed 2-1 at Molineux heading into second-half stoppage time after two late goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri and Hugo Bueno had overturned Elis Simms’ opener.

But the visitors staged a late comeback of their own, with Simms levelling the scores in the 97th minute before Wright struck on the stroke of full-time to secure a 3-2 victory and an FA Cup semi-final spot.

“I said it many times before, we’ve a lot of quality in our side,” Wright told ITV Sport: “It’s amazing to make it to Wembley on such an occasion and such a game. It’s great fun for all of us. Hopefully we can enjoy it and then get back to work.”

Don’t get me wrong, Newcastle have massively improved their squad recently since being taken over by the sovereign wealth fund of mega-rich Saudi Arabia.

The nation’s funds have been used to bankroll a gigantic influx of good players. But how many would get in City’s team?

Kieran Trippier? Maybe not ahead of Kyle Walker. Sven Botman? Possibly, though Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol are all top-class. Alexander Isak? Not ahead of Erling Haaland.

Bruno Guimaraes, probably, though City play John Stones and Rodri in defensive midfield. Isak or Anthony Gordon potentially ahead of Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish on the left wing. Otherwise, that’s about it.