The Magpies kept Pep Guardiola’s side at bay for the opening half hour, but headed into the break a goal behind after Sergio Agüero got a touch to Kevin De Bruyne’s cross.
Agüero added a second from the spot, but the Magpies rallied. Jacob Murphy halved the deficit after chipping the ball past Ederson, and the City stopper had to stand firm to keep out Mohamed Diamé’s effort five minutes later.
However, Argentine international Agüero put paid to United’s hopes of a comeback late on, gathering Leroy Sané’s ball before getting the better of Karl Darlow from 12 yards.
Still, Dummett believed he and his teammates had the Citizens “frustrated” for long spells – just as they did in the last meeting between the two sides, at St. James’ Park last month.
“Before the game, we knew it was going to be a difficult task for us. Not many teams have come here and given them a good game, so we knew it was going to be tough from the start,” he told nufc.co.uk. “We’ve given it a good go, from the start ‘til 90 minutes. We were right in the game until near the end.
“The first goal, it’s a really good ball in, and it is difficult to defend against. The second one, we’ve seen it again, and it’s not a penalty. But when you’re near the bottom, you get these decisions. If it’s the other way ‘round, I don’t think we get the penalty. I think that’s the kind of thing that happens with the teams at the top – they get more decisions than the teams at the bottom. There were a few today that we didn’t agree with, and that kills you in the end.
“I think against Man City, twice, we’ve performed, even though we defended quite a lot of the time. Towards the end of the (first) game, they were even trying to waste time, trying to get the game finished. I think we have frustrated them. They’re quite a lot clear in the league now, and you can’t say they’re definitely going to win it, but they’re probably the best team I’ve played against in my career. We can learn a lot off them, watching what they do.”
After a four-month injury absence, Dummett has now played a part in each of the Magpies’ last six games in all competitions, and the full back feels his body has stood up to the challenges posed so far.
“I’ve had a few games now to get my match sharpness back and get that confidence of sprinting back – I think that’s one of the main things for a hamstring injury, coming back and getting your confidence back to be playing and sprinting up and down the wing,” he said. “It takes games for that to happen, so I need to try and work hard and make sure I stay fit and help the team for the rest of the season to make sure we pick up results to stay in the league.”
