Newcastle prove Pep Guardiola right as Man City transfer call lingers

This is going to take some getting used to.

Welcome to Rodri-less Manchester City, where the Premier League champions are that split-second less comfortable on the ball and their opponents are encouraged that tiny bit more by the hesitation. Pep Guardiola expected teams to be more willing to go at City in the absence of their key man, and it didn't take long for him to be proven right.

Newcastle flew at the Blues from the opening whistle in a strangely-subdued St James' Park, targeting the space behind left-back Josko Gvardiol with the pace of Jacob Murphy or Kieran Trippier - especially if Manu Akanji had stepped up into midfield to help fill the void left by Rodri. City's left-back struggled, and didn't help himself with a series of clumsy touches and a foul throw that left Guardiola particularly displeased.

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The jitters weren't exclusive to Gvardiol though, with Ilkay Gundogan struggling to link the attack and Ederson backheeling to nobody as the whole team felt that little bit more panicked and organised without their usual conductor. In a game where Guardiola didn't name a full bench, it should also be said that the absences of Nathan Ake, Kevin De Bruyne and Oscar Bobb - last year's matchwinner here - were also felt.

Guardiola has had discussions with sporting director Txiki Begiristain about potentially replacing Rodri in the January transfer window, but before that he has challenged his players. If they can show what they did in the opening weeks of the season that they can cope without him, that would be the ideal response.

And as much as there were teething problems, his players stepped up. The manager had his hands in the air in frustration as City passed it sideways midway through the first half, only for some quick feet from Jack Grealish to be followed by a key pass inside to Gvardiol, who controlled and finished like a centre-forward.

Haaland had to head to the dugout as the team celebrated for some treatment on a flesh wound, and while the Norwegian was given little service to add to his 10 league goals he stood tall at the back to defend against Newcastle set-pieces. When one evaded him in first half stoppage time, Ederson produced a terrific save to deny Joelinton; in all the talk of City's summer business, being stubborn enough on price to ward off interest from the Saudi Pro League in their goalkeeper looks to have been a shrewd one.

He did give away a second-half penalty, although he couldn't have done much more as he made sure there was next to no contact with Anthony Gordon before the Newcastle man went tumbling over him after being played onside by Kyle Walker. Walker ended up arguing with Guardiola on the touchline again before play restarted as the defence tried to recalibrate against a buoyed Newcastle side.

City panicked at times after conceding, with a few players failing to take the right decision near their goal to further egg their hosts on. Sean Longstaff dragged a shot past the far post and Harvey Barnes was just unable to get on the end of a Gordon cross.

Phil Foden provided some impetus off the bench - although the fact that he didn't start again is becoming a concern - and Bernardo Silva was denied late on by an unbelievable Nick Pope save. But the Blues would have to be content with a point.

It won't unduly worry anyone at the Etihad as they head off for Bratislava, but after a week of gamesmanship on and off the pitch with Arsenal it wasn't the message that City wanted to send in the early kick-off. The longer City's margin for controlling a game looks reduced without Rodri, the more teams will take them on to push for weakness.

As captain Walker trudged off the pitch shaking his head, he and his teammates will know that the war is only just beginning.