Newcastle United 0 vs 1 Manchester City

84′

Offside given against Manchester City now! It was a wonderfully worked move, involving Negredo, Silva and Kolarov. The same move was repeated shortly afterward, with the away side now being awarded a free kick for a foul on Kolarov. He has really troubled the Magpies today.

 

82′

Substitution Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa Massadio Haidara

 

82′

Substitution Yoan Gouffran Hatem Ben Arfa

 

82′

The clock is ticking for the home side, though. If Pellegrini's men can hold onto to their 1-0 lead, this could be remembered as a vital day in their bid for the Premier League title...

 

81′

Silva takes the corner but it is collected by Krul. Newcastle's attempt to counterattack comes to nothing, though, as the ball goes off for a throw-in. But it gives them the perfect chance to bring on Massadio Haidara and Hatem Ben Arfa in a double change.

 

80′

Another cross from Kolarov, in the meantime! The left-back has been absolutely sensational. His delivery isn't capitalised on but the ball does work its way to Navas down the right, who wins another corner.

 

79′

Substitution Samir Nasri James Milner

 

79′

The tension in the stands is palpable, with this potentially looking like Newcastle's fourth straight loss. You wouldn't think it, looking at their side. They certainly don't do things by half measures...

 

78′

The Frenchman is strechered off and play resumes. Can the hosts finally get the equaliser they've been searching for or will City kill the game off?

 

76′

Nasri is indeed coming off, James Milner looking like his replacement.

 

75′

Yellow Card Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa

 

74′

Could that tackle have perhaps even warranted a red? The defender was chasing Nasri from behind and didn't seem too keen on getting the ball, launching his leg straight into Nasri's. The Frenchman is still down, surrounded by physios.

 

73′

Substitution Vurnon Anita Papiss Cissé

 

73′

FOUL! Yanga-Mbiwa is booked for a foul on Nasri, with the Frenchman falling to the ground in agony. It was a bad tackle and this could be a bad injury...

 

72′

POOR! The home side work the ball straight up the other end but Sissoko's cross is met by Santon, who blasts the ball way off target. That's not what Newcastle need right now.

 

71′

A save at the other end now, though not as dramatic. Kolarov - yet again - advances down the left and plays a low cross into the area. Nasri gets on the end of it and shoots first-time from several yards out, though Krul saves easily.

 

70′

Indeed, Hart has been brilliant so far today. You have to admire Pellegrini's approach in dropping him but leaving the door open for a quick return. It has done wonders for the goalkeeper's form.

 

69′

REMY!! So close from Newcastle, as Cabaye is involved yet again. First, he committed a foul but was then instrumental as Newcastle won the ball back. He passed to Gouffran, who played in Remy. But the Frenchman, who took a touch to make space in the box, was denied by Hart one-on-one. Very good save.

 

68′

CHANCE! Cabaye is involved again, only this time he is demonstrating his prowess rather than his aggressive side. Receiving the ball 35 yards from goal, he moves into space and shoots from range. The ball swerves only a yard or so over the bar, if that..

 

67′

The Frenchman, already having a booking to his name, needs to be more careful than that...

 

66′

The hosts are working hard to find an equaliser here. Santon is the latest man to launch a low cross into the area. However, every move sees Newcastle become more and more exposed to the break. After Santon's cross was blocked, City worked the ball to Navas again and Cabaye was penalised for a foul on him.

 

65′

Newcastle manage to clear but their attempt at a counterattack does not go so well. A long ball is played down the left, though it is overhit considerably as Sissoko gives up his attempts to reach it almost immediately.

 

64′

CHANCE! A ball into the box from Anita is picked up by Hart and City break straight up the other end from there. A great move sees the ball worked quickly to Navas down the right and his low cross into the box is cleared for a corner.

 

62′

There appears to be a free kick every minute here, with an offside now given against Manchester City. Nasri is the culprit and Newcastle use the free kick to clear their lines.

 

61′

Substitution Yaya Touré Javi García

 

61′

WIDE! Cabaye's dangerous delivery is beaten away by Hart! Once again, though, City do not really clear the danger, with the ball reaching Tiote. He fancies his chances of hitting the back of the net - just as he had done in the first half - but his volley sails several yards wide.

 

60′

Another free kick now! Santon is brought down on the edge of the box. This one is in a very dangerous position. Pellegrini delays the set-piece by making a change. Javi Garcia comes on for Yaya Toure, who has had a quiet game by his standards.

 

59′

SAVE!! The initial delivery is cleared but only goes as far out as Cabaye, who moves forward and hits a terrific half-volley towards goal. Hart saves acrobatically - but Newcastle are certainly knocking on the door here.

 

58′

Now Tiote is brought down by Toure. Revenge for the earlier foul, perhaps? A free kick is given inside the City half and Pardew's side will be looking to capitalise. They scored from an identical position against Chelsea earlier in the season.

 

57′

Good pressure from Zabaleta on Gouffran now allows Navas to keep the ball but he can only play it to Samir Nasri, who gives it away with a loose pass.

 

56′

That save seems to have given Newcastle the momentum once again, after a rare few minutes of City dominance. They have not made an immediate impact, though, as the ball sails off for a throw-in for Kolarov to take.

 

55′

FANTASTIC SAVE! The man who won the free kick - Negredo - was the man who got on the end of it, as Silva sent a great cross towards his compatriot. Negredo unleashed a strong header but Krul beat it away superbly.

 

54′

FOUL! City advance down the left, as Negredo is played in at the byline. As he tries to beat Williamson, though, he is cynically brought down. Free kick to the away side in a dangerous position. Silva to swing it in.

 

52′

Substitution Edin Dzeko Jesús Navas González

 

51′

Once again, the momentum is with the home side here. Pellegrini is clearly uncomfortable with the amount of possession they are enjoying, so Jesus Navas is entering the fray to add some more pace to the visitors' line-up. Off goes Edin Dzeko, who has had another impressive game.

 

49′

Yellow Card Cheikh Tiote

 

49′

CHANCE! Sissoko plays a great through ball into Remy - but the Frenchman takes too long as he cuts inside and loses the ball! That was a great chance for the hosts, if the striker could just have unleashed a first-time shot...

 

48′

BOOKING! Tiote now enters the referee's book for a needless challenge on Toure in the middle of the park. The Newcastle man bodychecked the Ivorian when he was under no pressure at all.

 

47′

Krul plays a free kick into the area for the hosts now and Vurnon Anita gets himself into a great position! The midfielder picks the ball up outside the penalty area and takes a low shot from distance. Hart is equal to it but only just.

 

46′

We're off for the second half! And the fans still aren't happy with the referee...

 

 

However, the goal was ruled out for offside, with Yoan Gouffran the man standing behind the last defender. He did not appear to touch the ball, though, so the decision proved very harsh...

 

 

Manchester City took an early lead through Edin Dzeko - set up by the brilliant Aleksander Kolarov. But Cheick Tiote appeared to have equalised for the home side, thumping a 30-yard volley straight into the back of the net.

 

 

So controversy reigns at St James' Park as the boos ring out at the half-time whistle. Alan Pardew, meanwhile, is livid! And he is telling the officials exactly what he thinks...

 

 

HALF-TIME: Newcastle United 0-1 Manchester City

 

45′ +1

Gouffran tries to work the ball into the box but the rock that is Kompany clears to safety!

 

45′

Yellow Card Pablo Zabaleta

 

45′

The ball is now delivered into the City area and punched away by Hart. The same thing then happens at the other end, with Krul clearing it for a throw-in.

 

44′

Headed away by Tiote! And now a booking for Pablo Zabaleta. Fiercely contested end to this half...

 

44′

FOUL! Kolarov skips away from his man but is then recklessly brought down. Free kick to Manchester City on the left wing.

 

43′

Davide Santon advances down the left, before playing the ball into the box. It slops out of Newcastle's possession until Cabaye wins it back. But he tries to feed Remy through and it goes straight to Hart.

 

41′

Can the Magpies capitalise on this period of extended pressure? The crowd are right behind them...

 

40′

Yellow Card Fernandinho
YELLOW! Tempers are flaring now, with Fernandinho the next player to go in the book.

 

40′

STAT ATTACK: Newcastle have had 80 per cent of possession in the last 10 minutes.

 

39′

It is all Newcastle now - but will they be happy with that when they feel it should be 1-1 already?

 

38′

Yellow Card Yohan Cabaye

 

37′

Yellow Card Moussa Sissoko

 

37′

BOOKED! Cabaye now receives a booking for arguing with the referee. Some controversy here...

 

36′

Play has barely resumed since the goal and the Newcaslte fans are livid! The offside was given because Gouffran just ducked out of the way of the shot while in an offside position. However, he didn't appear to get a touch...

 

33′

OFFSIDE!! Cheick Tiote smashes the ball into the back of the net but it's ruled offside!

 

32′

Great volley! Cabaye flashes the ball just wide from close-range.

 

31′

Back the hosts come, however, and win a corner after Dzeko (of all people) heads the ball out under pressure.

 

29′

CROSS! Kolarov has been fantastic down the left-hand side, with another one of his dangerous crosses almost catching Newcastle out once again! The defender just manages to block it.

 

27′

SHOCKER! Negredo attempts a 40-yard screamer... But slices his shot completely as it goes horribly wide.

 

26′

Half-chance for the hosts! Yohan Cabaye is almost found in the box by a searching long ball. The pass sails out for a goal kick, though, while Cabaye is given offside anyway.

 

25′

The crowd are livening up now as the hosts visibly up their work rate in pressuring City both in attack and defence. "Toon army" is the chant!

 

23′

Perhaps Newcastle listened, though, they are producing more and more up front...

 

22′

OFFSIDE! A great through ball now almost finds Remy! In fact, it does - but the Frenchman is called offside while he is one-on-one with Joe Hart.

 

21′

Some lovely footwork in the middle almost creates a chance, however, but the ball is given away by the home side at the first sign of a forward pass...

 

20′

Pardew looks calm on the touchline, as well, although it will take something significant for the hosts to find an equaliser. At the moment, City look as though they will punish them on the break for any attacking intent.

 

18′

The Magpies are looking more settled now: calm and assured in possession.

 

17′

Route one football as Steven Taylor almost gets a shot away! But it comes to nothing, for now...

 

17′

Referee Mike Jones gives a free kick the other way soon after, though, which Tim Krul launches straight into the City area...

 

16′

FOUL! Mike Williamson lets frustration get the better of him as he brings Dzeko down.

 

14′

OVER! Poor marking from Newcastle leaves Negredo unmarked in the area from the resulting set-piece and the Spaniard manages to unleash a powerful header on goal. It goes over the bar, however. Still 1-0.

 

14′

Silva whips the ball in towards Martin Demichelis but Sissoko heads it out for a corner.

 

13′

City have a free kick in the Newcastle half now...

 

12′

Newcastle are struggling to get hold of the ball here, while a loose pass from Yanga-Mbiwa almost puts Negredo through at the wrong end!

 

10′

So Kolarov and co. are doing all the damage at the moment, while City have carried on with the same pace and vigour since the goal.

 

8′

Assist Aleksandar Kolarov

 

8′

Goal Edin Dzeko
GOAL! Dzeko! What a quick goal from Manchester City, as Kolarov breaks down the left once more and sends a great low cross into the area. Edin Dzeko is the man to finish, as he tucks the ball into the back of the net to give Manuel Pellegrini's side the lead!

 

6′

FOUL! David Silva commits a clumsy foul now, although there are no hard feelings afterwards as he shakes hands with the man he brings down.

 

5′

The danger is cleared, however, and City look to slow things down, holding possession at the back.

 

5′

CORNER! The Magpies win themselves a corner after good work in the box from Yoan Gouffran.

 

4′

The hosts break straight up the other end and Moussa Sissoko has a strike from range. It goes way over the bar but we know what he can do from distance...

 

3′

Aleksander Kolarov makes a great run down the left-hand side and into the Newcastle box, only for a good tackle to stop him in his tracks.

 

2′

A quick start already at St James' Park, with both sides looking to get out of the traps early, only for challenges from Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Vincent Kompany to help stop the danger for either team.

 

1′

We're off! Manchester City get us underway.

 

 

Kick-off is almost upon us, stay with us for all the action!

 

 

Since then, though, Alan Pardew's side have lost three in a row - two of them in the Premier League. Manchester City, meanwhile, have just kept winning...

 

 

Both sides look to have set out with an attacking formation, with an open game more than likely. City have considerable firepower in Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko, although Newcastle have goals in their locker room, too, with the Magpies having earned a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace and a 5-1 triumph over Stoke not so long ago.

 

 

It's all to play for at St. James' Park today, as the visitors can go top of the Premier League with a win, while Newcastle can close the gap on seventh-placed Manchester United. And we'll also be seeing two of the division's four top scorers in Yaya Toure and Loic Remy. Manchester City's Sergio Aguero is second on the list, as well, but the Argentine has not yet returned from a calf injury.

 

 

Manchester City subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Lescott, Clichy, Garcia, Milner, Navas.

 

 

Manchester City XI: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov; Nasri, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Silva; Negredo, Dzeko.

 

 

Newcastle subs: Elliot, Haidara, Gosling, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa, Cisse.

 

 

Let's start with today's all-important team news. Newcastle XI: Krul; Santon, S.Taylor, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa; Anita, Tiote, Cabaye, Sissoko; Remy, Gouffran.

 

 

Good afternoon and welcome to play-by-play commentary of Newcastle United against Manchester City! I'm your host Tim Poole and I'll be guiding you through another Premier League classic. Hopefully...