Eddie Howe on seeking clarification on the rules surrounding Dan Burn’s offside goal 📺 pic.twitter.com/r7c8DrA8sa
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) February 21, 2026
Newcastle United’s Dan Burn said:
“That’s probably the best we’ve came here and played at City. I think if you come to City and they play through you amazingly, and score wonder goals, you hold your hands up a little bit, but the goals we conceded are disappointing from our point of view.
“The first one’s a goal kick that’s been knocked down, and within three passes they’ve scored so we’re disappointed but listen, that’s probably the best we’ve played (at the Etihad) and on another day, the result could have been different.”
On his disallowed goal just before half time…
“I felt pushed in the back and I think maybe if I’m a little bit better with it, I could probably make more of a meal of it, but I’m not great at doing that, so I didn’t!
“I’ve not seen it back but someone said that I was pushed, and it’s quite hard to get back onside once you’ve been pushed offside.”
Eddie Howe 🏴 reflects on the defeat against Manchester City despite a good performance from the Magpies pic.twitter.com/GvUKkbi4Pg
— JK (@JackBrown591897) February 22, 2026
“Our general performance was really strong defensively”
Eddie Howe is taking the positives from Newcastle’s loss to Man City 🗣️
🎙 @LiamMacdevitt | 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/8evvaJ2mq1
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 21, 2026
On responding strongly to going behind twice…
“That just shows the character that we’ve got in this team, that we kept going right til the very end.
“At the end of the day, we’ve still been beat so it doesn’t make a whole lot of difference but within the changing room, we felt equal to City today and I don’t think we’ve felt that very much coming here. (We’ve had) a long week of travel and if you looked at the game you wouldn’t have been able to tell City had a week to prepare and we travelled 10,000 miles or whatever it was, so I’m pretty proud of the lads.
“At the stage we’re at at the minute I don’t think, if we’re honest, we should be competing for the Premier League. Probably the cup competitions are the one where we can win things. But I feel as if we are closing the gap slowly but surely.”
On finishing the season strongly…
“We’re really focusing on these games and realising what a big opportunity we’ve got; four away games in a row and we’ve picked up three wins, a lot has been made about our away record, so I think we’ve turned it around pretty well.
“But we can’t rest on that. We’ve got Qarabag on Tuesday and then a home game against Everton so it’s good that we’ve got two home games to hopefully put in some good performances.
“We do love playing at home. Obviously, we were beat last time so it’s something that we’re looking to put right. It’ll be good to not have to travel and stay at hotels for a couple of weeks at least, and go again.
On Jacob Murphy and Kieran Trippier…
“Murph was 250th appearance today, Tripps 150. It’s a huge achievement to play that many games for Newcastle so I just want to give a little shout-out for them.”
Newcastle United defender Lewis Hall speaking to TNT Sports: “I think we can be very proud of the effort we put in, it’s been a difficult week for us in terms of travelling, a long away day [midweek] and got back in the early hours.To come here against some of the best players in the world an go toe to toe with them, unfortunately we weren’t table to get a result, but we can be proud of the performance.
“We knew the game would be high intensity so we had to be on our game. I thought we were good in a lot of aspects and we can be proud of that moving forward. I feel as a team the last few games we have played really well.
“I’m a defender, that’s my first job but I’m proud of myself of starting attacks, I want to get more goals and assists.”
Here’s how fans reacted as Newcastle and Eddie Howe vow to ‘seek clarification’ after the disallowed Dan Burn goal in defeat to Man City…
@ViewAspect_: VAR is a Joke.. Yes Dan Burn is offside but how or why was he offside? Push not a FOUL anymore? Protecting top 6 again? #MCINEW @premierleague @FA_PGMOL
@NUFC_Fanatic: Only Manchester City can push an attacker offside and get the decision. Only Manchester City can avoid two yellows for two cynical fouls. Only Manchester City can get every single decision.
@Tiggy746NUFC: So we can just push people to be offside and no foul given? Got it.
@cam_nufc: Just so everyone knows theres this new rule now where if you push the players offside it’s not a foul and you get a free kick for them being offside
@JanAageFjortoft:
1. Burn scores
2. Offside
3. Dias “pushing him offside”
I asked Burn if that’s what happened
Burn: – Yes, he did. But as a defender I do the same thing
–
Lovely and honest guy Dan Burn
@lembo1983: How can you push Burn into an offside position and not be a foul? He wouldn’t be offside if he wawn’t shoved #NUFC
@NorthBankNadim: Tonight Dan Burn scored a great goal for @NUFC. He was only offside because a City player shoved him offside. We have three officials and a VAR team, and none of them spot this. Fucking pointless @FA_PGMOL
@Only1Tommo96: So Dan Burn just scored for Newcastle against Manchester City but it was ruled out because he was offside but Ruben Dias pushes Dan Burn to make him offside which would be a foul? This officiating is so corrupt.
Bernardo commits this foul already on a yellow card… 🤨 pic.twitter.com/gw8Pdiq1tm
— EPL Bible (@EPLBible) February 21, 2026
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “We saw today until the end of the season this is how we need to play. We missed the last pass. Erling [Haaland] today – without him it would not be possible. All the guys were really good. Really pleased for the performance.
“Of course in terms of points it’s important, but we have to improve to have chance to compete until the end [of the season]. Now we deserve three more days off. Then another battle in Leeds.
“Every action, [Dan] Burn, Joelinton, they put flat ball in behind, it’s a really tough team. I have incredible respect for that team. Winning three times in a row [against Newcastle], in a few weeks we gave to go there again [in the FA Cup], what a nightmare.
“The best vibes today. Five home games left, we need those vibes from our people [fans]. Today was the day we felt really connected with them. It’s coming in best part of he season. Every single game will be similar to today.”
Guardiola speaking to TNT Sports: “Massive [result], Newcastle is an incredible team, awesome in physicality and speed they have up front. Physicality in the middle. Really tough but the team was unbelievable.
“70% of the players have never been in that situation [close title race], and I don’t play. So we have to live it, they know that every game will be like this. Especially at home, with five home games left. Today was the best crowd of the year, it was unbelievable with our people, really proud to be manager of these incredible people and fans. Now we rest three days, we need it, and then we play Leeds.”
On Newcastle: “In Champions League [on Wednesday] it was 5-0 at half-time, the physicality and pace they have since Saudi Arabia took over the club, the way they play is so difficult. So I am pleased with the way we played today.”
On the performance of Nico O’Reilly: “Nico give us in the middle that physicality that we need. He now plays in his position. He has always played that, he is so complete and so young. I am really pleased the academy produced these incredible players, Nico, Phil [Foden], Rico [Lewis].”