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In their first game at home in 34 days, Manchester city re-acquainted with their fans by thrashing a depleted Newcastle United. In a game that saw the home side completely dominate proceeding from the get go, it was only about when and not how City would get the breakthrough. The citizens had to wait till the 41st minute of the game to open their account but from then on, the floodgates opened as the home side romped to a comfortable win which keeps the gap at the top of the table at 15 points.
Manchester City were on front foot from the get-go and completely dominated the centre of the midfield with Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry in total control of the proceedings. This meant that the triple threat of Silva, Nasri and Tevez could roam about the field as loose cannons, creating havoc in the final third.
However the first real opportunity came Newcastle’s way when Vurnon Anita played a perfectly paced diagonal for Cisse, who hit it first time only to see his effort rattle off the post.
Only a couple of minutes later, City carved out their first opportunity as Nasri outfoxed Gouffran and Gutierrez to cut in a low cross which was blasted over the crossbar by Gareth Barry when it seemed harder to miss, form eight yards out.
Elliot was called into action again on 38 minutes when Gael Clichy found room on the left hand side of the box and fired in on the volley only to see the Irish goalkeeper fist his attempt away.
The French left back was in action again a couple of minutes later as he rolled in a delightful cross across the box which rolled its way to Carlos Tevez at the far post and the Argentine made no mistake to put City in front.
The men in blue were at this point toying with the magpies and a few minutes later, David Silva doubled the lead as he drilled home a shot from the left after some nifty play from Samir Nasri.
The second half saw James Perch come on for the visitors for the ineffective Gabriel Obertan and the visitors showed real intent for the first time in the game in the early minutes. The pressure nearly paid off when Cabaye found himself in space in the penalty box on 48 minutes but saw his effort go a whisker wide of Hart’s goal.
The game was however sealed 7 minutes later when a Gareth Barry shot was neatly deflected in by the returning City skipper Vincent Kompany to make it 3-0.
A further 14 minutes later, the demolition was complete when a surging run from Yaya Toure on the right saw his cross deflect from the boots of the onrushing James Perch and into the back of the net.
A flurry of substitutions followed as both managers came to terms with the score-line and began to pull out their main men.
Newcastle had Elliot to thank as substitute Scott Sinclair looked to make up for times spent on the City bench with a curling effort from the edge of the box. The Republic of Ireland international was however on hand to tip it over.
The victory now gives Manchester City a 5 point gap from Chelsea, who stuttered yet again, this time away at Southampton.
For Newcastle, this won’t be an ideal preparation before their trip to Portugal to face Benfica mid-week in their Europa League clash in the quarter-final stage.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany (c) (Javi Garcia 72′), Joleon Lescott, Gael Clichy; Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure; David Silva (Scott Sinclair 81′), Samir Nasri (Sergio Aguero 70′), Carlos Tevez; Edin Dzeko
Subs not used: Costel Pantilmon, Kolo Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov, James Milner.
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Rob Elliot; Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Jonas Gutierrez; Vurnon Anita, Yohan Cabaye (c) (Gael Bigirimana 73′); Gabriel Obertan (James Perch 45′), Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran (Dan Gosling 62′); Papiss Cisse
Subs not used: Steve Harper, Curtis Good, Sylvain Marveaux, Adam Campbell.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
FINAL SCORE:
Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle United (41? Carlos Tévez, 45+2? David Silva, 56? Vincent Kompany, 70? (OG) James Perch)
