Guardiola offers no excuses for draw; refuses to be drawn on title race

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City “have to accept” their 2-2 draw against Newcastle United that could prove costly in the race for the Premier League title.

Jetro Willems cancelled out Raheem Sterling’s 15th goal of the season but Kevin De Bruyne thought he had won it with a fine 82nd-minute strike.

But Jonjo Shelvey curled home a brilliant 87th-minute equaliser which, coupled with Martin Dubravka’s stoppage-time save from Sterling, ensured the game finished level.

City, who started the day nine points behind leaders Liverpool, dominated possession throughout but could not turn the pressure into enough goals to atone for their defensive fragility in front of a crowd of 49,937 at St James’ Park.

Guardiola said: “It’s what we’ve lived the last four years. We found a way and today, we found it again but unfortunately, at the end, we conceded a goal

“We could not score all the chances we had; they scored the two chances they had.

“We have to accept it, work on strengths and learn from it.

“It’s tough but we have just two days to recover.

“In good moments, be calm. In bad moments, live these kind of moments.”