Sports Direct Arena
Barclays Premier League
(Attendance: 52,389)
Toure (89)
Newcastle 0 Man City 2
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Club Reporter
At the Sports Direct Arena
Newcastle United 0
Manchester City 2 (Toure 70, 89)
Newcastle United suffered only their third home defeat of the season, as they went down 2-0 at the hands of Manchester City on Sunday.
A second half Yaya Toure brace was all that separated the sides at the Sports Direct Arena, as the Magpies put up a brave fight against the Premier League leaders but were unable to come away with anything to show for their efforts.
The hosts created some good chances, with Hatem Ben Arfa forcing a fine save out of Joe Hart, and Demba Ba twice being unable to hit the target before the break, while after it Papiss Cisse sent a near-post header wide.
But Toure curled home from distance for his first before capping a fine breakaway late on to put the result beyond any doubt.
The opening exchanges were understandably tense, with both sides keeping possession well but failing to make any impression. Only a couple of long-range Man City efforts - blocked by James Perch and Yohan Cabaye before they could get anywhere near goal - were all that either side had to show for their endeavours.
The visitors went closest to breaking the deadlock just after the ten-minute mark, when David Silva found himself with a couple of yards of space inside the area, but his low drive across the face of goal was parried away to safety by United stopper Tim Krul.
City were beginning to turn the screw, and on 17 minutes Krul had to be down smartly to keep out a low Sergio Aguero shot after Silva had weaved his way past a couple of challenges and fed the Argentine international.
The pressure continued and Krul was once again called into action midway through the dive, gathering Carlos Tevez's 25-yard free-kick at his near post after Hatem Ben Arfa had been booked for a foul on Gael Clichy.
It took United 28 minutes to muster their first chance of the afternoon, and it came through leading scorer Demba Ba. Out wide on right, Ben Arfa beat Joleon Lescott to a ball on the touchline, before racing forward and cutting it inside to Ba.
The big Senegalese front man turned and fired a left-footed shot goalwards, only to see it fly narrowly over the top of Joe Hart's goal.
That was the spark the Magpies needed as they suddenly began to spark into life. When Jonas Gutierrez robbed Pablo Zabaleta deep in the City half, it led to first Ba's shot being blocked, before Hart pulled off a fine save to keep out Ben Arfa's strike from the rebound.
Yohan Cabaye then dragged a low effort well wide, while Ba headed Ben Arfa's left-wing delivery over the top with five minutes of the half remaining.
But City came back at them and only some superb last-ditch defending prevented Newcastle from falling behind. As the ball was cut-back low inside the area to Barry, his first shot was blocked by Fabricio Coloccini, before the same player then struck again, only to see Davide Santon clear off the line.
The first chance of the second half when the way of the visitors, but Yaya Toure was unable to keep his 25-yard free-kick down, and United escaped conceding a set piece in a dangerous area.
Just past the hour mark City introduced Nigel De Jong from the bench in place of Samir Nasri, and the Dutch midfielder entered the pitch to a loud chorus of boos - United fans still angry at his tackle in October 2010 which left Ben Arfa with a double leg break.
And that man Ben Arfa came inches away from breaking the deadlock on 65 minutes. Ba received the ball on the edge of the box and, having held off the attentions of his marker, spread it wide to the right. Ben Arfa turned Clichy inside out but could only send a rising right-footed shot agonisingly the wrong side of the upright.
City introduced big striker Edin Dzeko from the substitutes' bench in a bid to boost their attacking power, and within seconds had taken the lead - but it came from a midfielder.
Receiving the ball from De Jong, Toure played a neat one-two with Aguero around 25 yards out before curling an inch-perfect strike past the grasp of Krul and into the bottom corner. It was an outstanding finish which sent more than 3,000 visiting fans wild as they took another step closer to clinching their first Premier League title.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew responded with a double change - Ben Arfa and Perch replaced by Shola Ameobi and Shane Ferguson - but it was the visitors who continued to create and Aguero should have doubled their advantage with a simple chance.
He broke the offside trap to race on to Silva's dinked pass over the top, but somehow side-footed wide when one-on-one with Krul.
United's response came from the head of Papiss Cisse. Coloccini and Ameobi combined on the edge of the area, with the latter chipping a cross towards the near post, and although Cisse rose well and got a firm connection he was unable to direct his header on target.
Ameobi looked close to salvaging a draw with only a couple minutes remaining when he connected with a fierce volley from 18 yards, only to see Micah Richards deny him with an outstanding block, throwing his body in front of the ball.
And City promptly went straight up the other end and made it 2-0 in the 89th minute through Toure again. As the visitors broke at pace, the ball was worked from right to left.
Clichy cleverly slipped the ball into the path of Toure six yards out, and from there he made no mistake with a composed finish which put the seal on proceedings.
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; James Perch (Shane Ferguson 74), Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Davide Santon; Hatem Ben Arfa (Shola Ameobi 74), Cheick Tiote (Ryan Taylor 82), Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez; Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse
Subs not used: Rob Elliot, Dan Gosling, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany (c), Joleon Lescott, Gael Clichy; Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure; Samir Nasri (Nigel De Jong 62), Carlos Tevez (Edin Dzeko 70), David Silva (Micah Richards 85); Sergio Aguero
Subs not used: Costel Pantilimon, Aleksandar Kolarov, James Milner, Adam Johnson
Referee: Howard Webb (Yorkshire)
Attendance: 52,389 (3,200 Man City)
Cross by Gael Clichy(Man City), clearance by Mike Williamson(Newcastle).
Shot by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle) drilled left-footed from right channel (20 yards), save (caught) by Joe Hart(Man City).
Cross by Davide Santon(Newcastle), shot by Demba Ba(Newcastle) drilled right-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), save (parried) by Joe Hart(Man City).
Goal by Gnegneri Toure Yaya(Man City) left-footed (high centre of goal) from left side of six-yard box (6 yards).Newcastle 0-2 Man City. Assist (pass) by Gael Clichy(Man City) from left side of penalty area.
Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) to near post, clearance by Vincent Kompany(Man City).
Shot by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle) drilled left-footed from right side of penalty area (18 yards), blocked by Micah Richards(Man City).
Attacking throw-in by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle).
Cross by Sergio Aguero(Man City), clearance by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by Joe Hart(Man City).
Defending throw-in by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Ryan Taylor(Newcastle).
Man City substitution: David Silva replaced by Micah Richards (tactical).
Foul by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle) on Joleon Lescott(Man City). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Joe Hart(Man City) from own half, resulting in open play.
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by David Silva(Man City) to near post, shot by Edin Dzeko(Man City) right-footed from right side of six-yard box (6 yards), over the bar.
Shot by Sergio Aguero(Man City) right-footed from right side of penalty area (18 yards), save (blocked) by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Newcastle substitution: Cheick Tiote replaced by Ryan Taylor (tactical).
Foul by Cheick Tiote(Newcastle) on Pablo Zabaleta(Man City). Direct free kick taken left-footed by David Silva(Man City) from right wing, header by Gnegneri Toure Yaya(Man City) from left side of six-yard box (6 yards), missed left.
Foul by Shane Ferguson(Newcastle) on David Silva(Man City). Shane Ferguson(Newcastle) booked for unsporting behaviour. Direct free kick taken right-footed by Joe Hart(Man City) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City) on Shane Ferguson(Newcastle). Pablo Zabaleta(Man City) booked for unsporting behaviour. Free kick crossed right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) from left channel, clearance by Gareth Barry(Man City).
Goal kick taken long by Joe Hart(Man City).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle). Cross by Shola Ameobi(Newcastle), header by Papiss Cisse(Newcastle) from right side of penalty area (12 yards), missed right.
Cross by Cheick Tiote(Newcastle), clearance by Edin Dzeko(Man City).
Attacking throw-in by Shane Ferguson(Newcastle).
Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) to near post, clearance by Gareth Barry(Man City).
Cross by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle), save (punched) by Joe Hart(Man City).
Cross by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City), resulting in open play.
Defending throw-in by Mike Williamson(Newcastle).
Shot by Sergio Aguero(Man City) right-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards), missed right.
Goal kick taken short by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Newcastle substitution: Hatem Ben Arfa replaced by Shola Ameobi (tactical).
Newcastle substitution: James Perch replaced by Shane Ferguson (tactical).
Shot by Edin Dzeko(Man City) drilled left-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards), missed left.
Foul by Papiss Cisse(Newcastle) on Gareth Barry(Man City). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Nigel De Jong(Man City) from right channel, resulting in open play.
Attacking throw-in by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City).
Defending throw-in by Gael Clichy(Man City).
Goal by Gnegneri Toure Yaya(Man City) curled right-footed (bottom-right of goal) from right channel (20 yards).Newcastle 0-1 Man City. Assist (pass) by Sergio Aguero(Man City) from left channel.
Defending throw-in by James Perch(Newcastle).
Man City substitution: Carlos Tevez replaced by Edin Dzeko (tactical).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Cross by Demba Ba(Newcastle), clearance by Joleon Lescott(Man City).
Shot by Demba Ba(Newcastle) curled right-footed from left side of penalty area (18 yards), clearance by Gareth Barry(Man City).
Cross by David Silva(Man City), foul by Joleon Lescott(Man City) on Tim Krul(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Tim Krul(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by David Silva(Man City) to near post, clearance by Papiss Cisse(Newcastle).
Cross by Carlos Tevez(Man City), clearance by Fabricio Coloccini(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by Joe Hart(Man City).
Shot by Hatem Ben Arfa(Newcastle) drilled right-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), missed right.
Attacking throw-in by Gael Clichy(Man City).
Defending throw-in by Gael Clichy(Man City).
Defending throw-in by James Perch(Newcastle).
Man City substitution: Samir Nasri replaced by Nigel De Jong (tactical).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken short by Joe Hart(Man City).
Shot by David Silva(Man City) drilled left-footed from left channel (25 yards), blocked by Mike Williamson(Newcastle).
Cross by James Perch(Newcastle), clearance by Joleon Lescott(Man City).
Foul by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle) on Sergio Aguero(Man City). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Gareth Barry(Man City) from own half, resulting in open play.
Cross by Cheick Tiote(Newcastle), clearance by Samir Nasri(Man City).
Foul by Gnegneri Toure Yaya(Man City) on Davide Santon(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Shot by Carlos Tevez(Man City) drilled right-footed from right channel (20 yards), save (caught) by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Shot by Carlos Tevez(Man City) right-footed from left side of penalty area (18 yards), missed right.
Cross by David Silva(Man City), clearance by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle).
Corner from left by-line taken short right-footed by Samir Nasri(Man City).
Cross by Gael Clichy(Man City), blocked by James Perch(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Foul by James Perch(Newcastle) on Carlos Tevez(Man City). Free kick taken right-footed by Gnegneri Toure Yaya(Man City) curled from left channel (25 yards), over the bar.
Cross by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle), blocked by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City).
Defending throw-in by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City).
Foul by Jonas Gutierrez(Newcastle) on Pablo Zabaleta(Man City). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Joe Hart(Man City) from own half, resulting in open play.
Cross by Papiss Cisse(Newcastle), clearance by Joleon Lescott(Man City).
Attacking throw-in by Gael Clichy(Man City).
Attacking throw-in by Gael Clichy(Man City).
Gareth Barry(Man City) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken left-footed by Tim Krul(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Foul by Demba Ba(Newcastle) on Vincent Kompany(Man City). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Joe Hart(Man City) from own half, resulting in open play.
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Handball by Samir Nasri(Man City). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Tim Krul(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Cross by Sergio Aguero(Man City), resulting in open play.
Shot by Gareth Barry(Man City) drilled left-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards), blocked by Fabricio Coloccini(Newcastle). Shot by Gareth Barry(Man City) drilled left-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards), clearance by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by Joe Hart(Man City).
Cross by Hatem Ben Arfa(Newcastle), header by Demba Ba(Newcastle) from right side of penalty area (12 yards), over the bar.
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Foul by Gnegneri Toure Yaya(Man City) on Davide Santon(Newcastle). Gnegneri Toure Yaya(Man City) booked for unsporting behaviour. Direct free kick taken right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) from left channel, resulting in open play.
Defending throw-in by James Perch(Newcastle).
Cross by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City), resulting in open play.
Foul by James Perch(Newcastle) on Carlos Tevez(Man City). James Perch(Newcastle) booked for unsporting behaviour. Direct free kick taken right-footed by Gnegneri Toure Yaya(Man City) from own half, resulting in open play.
Goal kick taken long by Joe Hart(Man City).
Shot by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) drilled right-footed from left channel (20 yards), missed left.
Shot by Demba Ba(Newcastle) drilled right-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), blocked by Gael Clichy(Man City). Shot by Hatem Ben Arfa(Newcastle) volleyed right-footed from right side of penalty area (12 yards), save (parried) by Joe Hart(Man City).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Foul by Cheick Tiote(Newcastle) on David Silva(Man City). Cheick Tiote(Newcastle) booked for unsporting behaviour. Free kick crossed left-footed by David Silva(Man City) from right channel, resulting in ball out of play.
Shot by Demba Ba(Newcastle) drilled right-footed from left channel (20 yards), blocked by Joleon Lescott(Man City).
Shot by Samir Nasri(Man City) drilled left-footed from right channel (35+ yards), blocked by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle).
Shot by Cheick Tiote(Newcastle) drilled right-footed from right channel (30 yards), blocked by Vincent Kompany(Man City).
Foul by Gareth Barry(Man City) on Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle). Gareth Barry(Man City) booked for unsporting behaviour. Free kick taken right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) curled from left channel (30 yards), blocked by Carlos Tevez(Man City).
Goal kick taken long by Joe Hart(Man City).
Shot by Demba Ba(Newcastle) drilled left-footed from left channel (30 yards), over the bar.
Foul by Hatem Ben Arfa(Newcastle) on Gael Clichy(Man City). Hatem Ben Arfa(Newcastle) booked for unsporting behaviour. Free kick taken right-footed by Carlos Tevez(Man City) curled from left channel (25 yards), save (caught) by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Sergio Aguero(Man City) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Cross by Gael Clichy(Man City), resulting in ball out of play.
Defending throw-in by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City).
Defending throw-in by James Perch(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Shot by Gael Clichy(Man City) drilled left-footed from left channel (30 yards), missed left.
Inswinging corner from right by-line taken left-footed by David Silva(Man City) to far post, clearance by James Perch(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City).
Cross by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City), clearance by Mike Williamson(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Shot by Sergio Aguero(Man City) right-footed from left side of penalty area (18 yards), save (caught) by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Papiss Cisse(Newcastle) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken right-footed by Vincent Kompany(Man City) from own half, resulting in open play.
Attacking throw-in by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City).
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Shot by David Silva(Man City) drilled left-footed from left side of penalty area (12 yards), save (parried) by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Samir Nasri(Man City) to near post, clearance by Cheick Tiote(Newcastle).
Corner from left by-line taken short right-footed by Samir Nasri(Man City). Cross by David Silva(Man City), blocked by Hatem Ben Arfa(Newcastle).
Shot by Samir Nasri(Man City) curled right-footed from left channel (18 yards), blocked by James Perch(Newcastle).
Goal kick taken long by Tim Krul(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Gael Clichy(Man City).
Foul by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) on Gareth Barry(Man City). Direct free kick taken left-footed by Gnegneri Toure Yaya(Man City) from left channel, resulting in open play.
Attacking throw-in by Hatem Ben Arfa(Newcastle).
Carlos Tevez(Man City) caught offside. Indirect free kick taken left-footed by Tim Krul(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.
Defending throw-in by James Perch(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Attacking throw-in by Hatem Ben Arfa(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Pablo Zabaleta(Man City).
Attacking throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Defending throw-in by Davide Santon(Newcastle).
Foul by David Silva(Man City) on Hatem Ben Arfa(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) from right wing, resulting in open play.
Foul by Carlos Tevez(Man City) on Cheick Tiote(Newcastle). Direct free kick taken right-footed by Yohan Cabaye(Newcastle) from own half, resulting in open play.