Ruben Dias slams refereeing decision in controversial Harvey Barnes winner against Manchester City | OneFootball

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has criticised the ruling over Harvey Barnes’ winning strike in Newcastle’s 2-1 victory over the Blues on Saturday evening.

City’s title hopes suffered another setback as Barnes struck either side of a Dias leveller in the second-half at St. James’ Park to inflict a fourth Premier League defeat of the season on Pep Guardiola’s men.

Arsenal can stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points with victory in the north London derby on Sunday, with Manchester City’s title hopes hanging by a thread after another disappointing defeat on the road.

The Blues were wasteful in the first-half and missed a series of presentable chances to take the lead against the run of play, though Newcastle were the side who would have been gutted to enter the interval with nothing to show for their attacking prowess.

However, a six minute spell in the second-half witnessed all three goals of the evening as a double from Harvey Barnes either side of a Ruben Dias equaliser earned an important win for Eddie Howe’s side after an indifferent start to the Premier League campaign.

Dias spoke at length to Sky Sports after his side’s narrow defeat and criticised the fact that Newcastle’s winner was allowed to stand despite a push from Barnes on Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from the corner that led to the Englishman’s goal.

“The second goal, I feel we need to make it make sense because what is the sense in their player pushing our keeper (Gianluigi Donnarumma) outside the goal,” an animated Dias said after the controversial ruling.

“What are we allowing, and for how long? It’s like sometimes you allow it, sometimes you don’t, so where’s the rule, what can you actually do? Gigio (Donnarumma) is in his place, he’s being pushed out, there’s no consequence, it’s allowed.

“I’ve had a chance to see the (replay), I didn’t even realise on the pitch. I’ve found where he was out of position, so we immediately felt something was wrong and I had chance to see the review now and he’s pushing him away from the goal.

“We’re so picky with certain contacts but one like this with the keeper you allow it. I mean, it is what it is. But if this is the rule, fine – let us do the same. Back in the day, this (pushing Donnarumma) was a foul. Now, apparently, it’s allowed.

“I feel like today it’s a very good… I don’t want to be… I mean it’s one of them where when you lose people are going to say I’m finding excuses but it’s nothing like it. Today Newcastle were better, they deserved the win.

“Because of that, they were able to finish more chances. In the end, all I’m saying is in terms of the rule, there needs to be a rule. These kinds of contacts, I’ve seen the image and it looks like – yeah.”

Guardiola and his side will feel hard done by the manner of Barnes’ winner but City certainly did not deserve to leave Tyneside with all three points after their wastefulness in the first-half, though a draw would probably have been a fairer result.