Andy Carroll was Newcastle’s star in the Manchester City defeat – the rest of the team let him down

They often contain intriguing little mini-dramas, games like these. Spin-offs to the main show. 

The headline action might have been happening out of shot but diverting eyes away from Andy Carroll was a challenge. Especially as his frustration grew at Newcastle’s aimlessness.

Every high ball was an event. A crumb for Andy Carroll, a castaway on an island with only two other occupants, Manchester City’s centre halves. A story of one man’s anguish, with nothing to savour. 

Andy Carroll could do little to stop Manchester City as his Newcastle side lost 2-0 on Sunday

All of his mates were 60 yards away and that felt like miles, Newcastle too occupied with plugging holes in their leaking boat to help the man carrying the club’s FA Cup hopes alone.

Newcastle have taken four Premier League points off City in the past two seasons playing this way at St James’ Park. Without the baying crowd, there lacked that real energy to get close to their lonely striker. 

Support from the wings, something Steve Bruce’s game plan relied upon, was non-existent. ‘Keep the f****** ball,’ Sean Longstaff shouted, his annoyance echoing around this cathedral to such an extent that even the marooned Carroll must have heard.

City strangled the life out of Newcastle, Carroll reduced at one point to placing hands on hips on the halfway line and just standing to watch the visitors pick their way through midfield. He threw those arms exasperatingly when Federico Fernandez barely cleared his own third with a clearance.

Despite City’s victory, Carroll caused problems for the City defence, much to his frustration

The most frustrating thing for Bruce, and definitely for the striker making a first start since December, is that Carroll was Newcastle’s best player but was not afforded the tools to inflict damage. 

The hosts recorded 18 per cent of possession in the first half, while Carroll won the majority of his headers and was causing problems. That is what he does, his unorthodox facial hair – possibly a Billy Fane tribute, his manager mused – somehow adding a little extra menace.

Pep Guardiola knew what was coming, whether it via Carroll or Joelinton. An imposing forward would need dealing with, hence why Aymeric Laporte and Nicolas Otamendi were chosen. The two most physical defenders at the club had a job on their hands. 

City’s Nicolas Otamendi (right) had a struggle on his hands keeping Carroll (left) quiet

Steve Bruce’s (middle) game plan failed to damage City’s, with his use of Carroll ineffective

There felt like added purpose when City’s fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura threw up balls to attack in the warm-up, an exercise beneficial for picking up the flight against the backdrop of seats but ultimately lacking the forearm flying into your neck.

Carroll, who looks lean after shedding five kilos during lockdown, made sure Laporte knew what they felt like within seconds of this painfully one-sided quarter final. 

Laporte, so obviously City’s most self-assured defender, appeared shaken for some minutes afterwards, uncertain when beating Carroll to a comfortable ball on halfway and miscuing his first touch out for a throw.

Newcastle’s main crime was a failure to capitalise on these chinks. Carroll purposefully collapsed the scrum with Otamendi, winning a free-kick 35 yards from goal, only for Longstaff to cross into the stand. He did not swear in anger at Newcastle’s dreadful surrender of possession that time.

Carroll (left) ended the game a frustrated figure and stays goalless in his second Magpies spell

They did improve, throwing some closer towards Carroll and there did seem a genuine appetite to run beyond him while the 31-year-old continued to batter City’s defence. Laporte again went down after feeling the full impact of that forearm.

‘There is always a way to win games, whether it be with a counter-attack or set-piece. Or make it dirty,’ Jamaal Lascelles told Sportmail on Saturday. Carroll was just the right side of dirty to make his contribution worthwhile and that must be something Bruce takes away from this.

Yet to score during his second spell on Tyneside, Carroll has been beating the manager’s door down about a lack of starts and may still have a decent part to play after signing a heavily-incentivised new one-year contract. 

But on Sunday he was lonely. And that was sad.