MAN CITY 2, NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Manchester City piled on more misery for Newcastle United with a routine home victory which lifted them to fifth place and five points behind leaders Liverpool.
On a night when Storm Bella lashed the Etihad, City made it 12 straight home Premier League wins against the Magpies with a goal difference of 41-7.
City were comfortable winners thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres though, with more clinical finishing, it would have been more convincing as they extended their unbeaten record to 10 games in all competitions.
There was never any doubt with Newcastle, beaten by Championship club Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter finals four days earlier, never a serious attacking threat as they had top scorer Callum Wilson, Dwight Gayle and Andy Carroll on the bench.
That made City’s job that much easier as they kept a 13th clean sheet of the season which is the best of any side in the top five European leagues.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity manager Pep Guardiola was delighted with the victory, saying: “It was probably our best performance of the season in terms of players keeping to their positions.
“It was a tough game in the weather conditions and our opponents, but we played at the tempo we needed to play.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t score four or five but, after the disappointment against West Brom in our last home game, it was important the way we played.
“Everyone was so focused and it was a good performance.”
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce admitted they were beaten by the better side but was pleased by the response after the midweek loss.
“The criticism rightly came our way and we responded. It was a decent performance which was pleasing,” he said.
“I wanted a response from a very poor showing in the week and got. I could not fault the effort and endeavour.”
City made one change from the side that beat Southampton 1-0 in their last Premier League outing.
Nathan Ake replaced Kyle Walker who tested positive for coronavirus and missed out as a result.
Gabriel Jesus was also absent from the squad after also testing positive for Covid-19 while Sergio Aguero was on the bench for Guardiola’s side.
There were four changes for Newcastle from their 1-1 draw against Fulham in their last Premier League fixture.
Matty Longstaff, Fabian Schar, Isaac Hayden and Jacob Murphy were the players to come into the side, but there was no start for top scorer Callum Wilson
They were still missing Allan Saint-Maximin and captain Jamaal Lascelles as they struggle to shake off the effects of coronavirus.
There was one minute’s silence before kick off in memory of those connected with the club who have died in the last 12 months, including Glyn Pardoe, Michael Robinson, Jimmy Conway, Peter Bonetti and also Newcastle’s Jack Charlton.
After an uneventful opening, City claimed the lead in the 14th minute with their first chance of the half.
Raheem Sterling got behind the visiting defence before coolly cutting the ball back for Gundogan to slot home an easy finish from seven yards for his fourth goal of the season.
It was also the 150th goal Sterling had been involved in – 96 goals and 54 assists – since Guardiola took charge at City.
City had chances to extend their lead when Kevin De Bruyne’s cross was well clawed out by keeper Karl Darlow while Ferran Torres burst though only to shoot tamely at the keeper who also blocked a shot from De Bruyne who was clean through on goal.
Guardiola was a frustrated figure on the touchline as he knew his side ought to have had a far healthier advantage.
City’s manager will be disappointed that his side, despite enjoying 75 per cent possession, created only four goal attempts.
Newcastle had their first goal attempt of the game in the 51st minute when Jacob Murphy forced a routine diving save from Ederson.
But City doubled their advantage four minutes later through Torres’ seventh goal of the season to become joint top scorer alongside Sterling.
Joao Cancelo’s low cross was cleared by Federico Fernandes but only as far as the Spanaiard who slotted home from 10 yards.
And it ought to have been 3-0 not long after when Cancelo’s cross rebounded off Sterling to Bernardo Silva who struck the upright with an angled shot from a couple of yards.
Guardiola made his first change short of the hour when Rodri, who picked up a knock in the opening period, was replaced by Fernandinho.
City made a second change with 13 minutes left when Torres made way for Aguero.
Ederson was called upon again diving low to turn away a goalbound drive from Murphy as he was their most dangerous attacking outlet.
Aguero had only been on the field for four minutes when he was denied a goal as Darlow made a brilliant point-bank save to prevent him converting Cancelo’s cross.
The Argentine also claimed a penalty after he was brought down by Darlow, though referee Andre Marriner waved play on. Replays showed, however, the striker was offside.
Guardiola brought on Phil Foden for Gundogan in the last of the 90 minutes as they had victory sealed.