Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City's substitutes 'forgot their positions' at Newcastle .
City twice threw away a lead at St James' Park as they had to settle for a 2-2 draw.
Raheem Sterling's early striker had been cancelled out by Jetro Willems but City looked to be on course for three points after a Kevin de Bruyne screamer.
Newcastle fought back again though through Jonjo Shelvey after City sloppily gave away a free-kick.
And after the game, Guardiola said: "We played at a good level. It was not easy because they defended deep. We scored two goals but we also let two in which is disappointing.
"With substitutions sometimes players forget positions. We found a way to get through but we unfortunately at the end we conceded a goal. There are teams that defend deeper like this, it happens all season."
City had brought on Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva in a double change for Riyad Mahrez and David Silva.
Rodri was introduced in place of Gabriel Jesus after De Bruyne's stunner but Newcastle fought back again through Shelvey.
Defender John Stones added: "That result is hard to take. The dressing room is really flat. Everything happened so quickly in the last ten minutes from elation to deflation. It’s a difficult one to take.
"They set up defensively right from the off. We conceded two sloppy goals today and that has cost us today. The chase is still on.
"We fight until the last day. That’s what we did last season. Anything can happen. Today we played some unbelievable play but those mistakes cost us."
