De Jong under the microscope again

MANCHESTER CITY 2, NEWCASTLE UNITED 1

NEWCASTLE manager Chris Hughton left Eastlands seething after a 2–1 defeat to Manchester City that was made even worse by the broken leg suffered by Hatem Ben Arfa.

The French midfielder was on the wrong end of a reckless–looking tackle from Nigel de Jong after only five minutes and left the field on a stretcher, requiring oxygen to ease his discomfort.

The 23-year-old was immediately taken to hospital for a scan and he will now go under the knife on Monday in an effort to aid his recovery after it was confirmed he has suffered a broken tibia and fibula of his left leg.

Referee Martin Atkinson didn’t award a free–kick — which suggests the matter will be looked at again with the possibility of a violent conduct charge if the tackle is deemed reckless.

"There is no malice in Nigel whatsoever," said City assistant manager Brian Kidd. Whether the FA take the same stance remains to be seen.

But there is nothing Newcastle can do about the two penalty calls Hughton believes went against his side.

First, Newcastle lost out when Atkinson ruled Mike Williamson chopped Tevez down at 0-0. TV replays suggested that if it was a foul it took place outside the penalty area. Tevez drove the ball home.

Later, when Adam Johnson had struck in the second half to give City the edge following Jonas Gutierrez's equaliser, the referee ignored a lunge on Shola Ameobi which most were convinced was a penalty.

None of this will bother City. Assistant manager Brian Kidd, a veteran of title–winning campaigns at Manchester United, summed up the game: "Sometimes you have to win ugly."