Goals:
0-1: Aarons (6, casually slotted a low shot through Caballero’s legs after Taylor robbed a dawdling Fernandinho)
0-2: Sissoko (75, turned past Fernandinho, rolled the ball through Sagna’s legs and slotted a great low finish past Caballero)
Bookings: Dummett (26, foul), Mangala (69, foul), Aguero (75, foul), Milner (84, foul)
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton) – Might have cost Newcastle their victory on another night as he ignored an obvious penalty when Kolarov fouled Obertan 3
Entertainment: *****
MAN CITY (4-2-3-1):
Caballero 5; Sagna 5, Demichelis 4, Mangala 3, KOLAROV 6; Fernandinho 4, Toure 4 (Navas 59, 4); Milner 5, Jovetic 5, Silva 5 (Nasri 9, 4 (Aguero 70, 4); Dzeko 4.
Subs (not used): Hart (gk), Zabaleta, Boyata, Reges.
NEWCASTLE (4-3-3):
8 Elliot: Made two excellent first-half saves to deny Jovetic and Toure and controlled his penalty area effectively all evening
7 Janmaat: Worked tirelessly to prevent Kolarov having an impact on the overlap and delivered a great first-half cross for Armstrong
8 Coloccini: Led the backline superbly and won a succession of headers and tackles to ensure Dzeko was unable to have an effect
9 Dummett: Took the switch from full-back to centre-half in his stride superbly and dominated City’s star-studded attack
8 Haidara: Defensively secure throughout against the dangerous Silva and Navas, and looked to get forward whenever possible
9 R TAYLOR: Played like he had never been away after a two-year injury absence and was equally comfortable in midfield and at right-back
8 Abeid: Wasn’t fazed by the quality of the opponents he was up against and ran himself into the ground to thwart City’s attacking
8 Colback: Was here, there and everywhere from first minute to last and ensured City’s midfielders were unable to break into the Newcastle box
8 Obertan: Posed a constant threat on the break and should have won a penalty when he was chopped down in the second half
7 Armstrong: Ran himself into the ground in his lone striker role and came close to doubling Newcastle’s lead on the stroke of half-time
8 Aarons: Took his goal superbly and was a constant threat on the counter-attack thanks to his pace, but was forced off injured at half-time
Subs:
8 Ameobi (for Aarons, 46): Might not have had the goalscoring impact he had at Spurs, but was still a big attacking influence in the second half
8 Sissoko (for Janmaat, 64): Kept driving Newcastle forward after his introduction and weighed in with a magnificent solo effort to double their lead
7 Riviere (for Armstrong, 64): Ensured Newcastle’s attacking work rate did not let up and troubled the City defence in the closing stages
(not used): Krul (gk), Gouffran, Cabella, Perez.
Man Of The Match: RYAN TAYLOR – Just playing at all was enough of an achievement after two separate cruciate ligament injuries, but Newcastle’s utility man produced a magnificent performance full of energy and passion.
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