Manchester City beat Newcastle United 3-2 at St. James’ Park, with Oscar Bobb scoring a late winner – and Paul Dickov was left in awe of the youngster for the way he took his goal.
City moved to within two points of leaders Liverpool with the win, which was inspired by Kevin De Bruyne who came off the bench in the second-half.
City were trailing after Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon cancelled out Bernardo Silva’s sublime opener.
But De Bruyne came on and scored an equaliser within minutes, passing the ball in from around 20 yards.
He would then set up Bobb with a perfect ball over the top, and Bobb’s finish was of the highest quality, rounding Martin Dubravka with quick feet.
It was a finish that seriously impressed former City striker Paul Dickov…
Paul Dickov hails Oscar Bobb after incredible goal for Manchester City against Newcastle
This was Bobb’s first goal in the Premier League for City, and what a goal it was from the talented 20-year-old.
The pass from De Bruyne was inch-perfect, and Bobb then had the technical ability to control the ball, shift away from Dubravka and then finish instantly before the ball could be blocked.
It was the kind of finish you would expect from a seasoned pro, not a youngster who had never scored in the Premier League before.
Dickov was a man who knew a thing or two about scoring goals for City- and he was left so impressed by Bobb’s finish.
He said on City’s post-match show on YouTube: “Special word for Oscar Bobb as well, please. To come on, and then his touch and then how calm he was with the finish.
“It’s top, top natural ability. So much belief and confidence in what he’s doing. His first touch was good and then he was under pressure from the defender and goalkeeper. A lot of people would have tried to toe-poke it past the ‘keeper or have their shot straight away. How quick he was in his thinking and the ability and quick feet just to go ‘touch touch’ and pass it into the net.
“We’ve been talking about Oscar for a long, long time. Pep has been talking about him as well. He’s a first-team player now.
“I can’t explain to you how difficult that (goal) is to do.”
What a talent
Bobb is going to be some player in a few years’ time, because the level he’s showing right now as a 20-year-old who’s just broken through is amazing.
It is becoming clearer with every game why City and Pep Guardiola did not want Bobb going out on loan anywhere ahead of the 2023/24 season.
The Norwegian talent just has so much ability, and all the indications are that he is going to take the Phil Foden route at City. Foden was never loaned out, and gradually forced his way into the side, having learned so much as a fringe player.
Hopefully, we will be seeing much more of Bobb in the second half of the season. He is showing he is more than capable at this level.
