City have lost, with a typical Michael Owen effort on 18 minutes the only goal of the game. City looked solid at the back again, but were unable to create many chances of their own, and were grateful to David James just before half time when he denied Owen with his feet.

Team news - Danny Mills had a virus and was replaced by Nedum Onuoha who had his controversial Carling Cup red card rescinded on Friday. Jihai Sun started his first Premiership game of the season in place of the injured Sinclair.

The Match

The opening exchanges were very cagey, with the home side keeping hold of the ball and passing well, but not making any incisive attacks.

But in the sixth minute City had a golden opportunity from a free kick. Barton swung the ball in from the right touchline,finding the diving Sibierski, but the Frenchman’s header went straight at Given’s feet when either side would surely have been a goal.

On 11 minutes, Owen crossed in from the left to find N’Zogbia but his cross-cum-shot found no-one as it raced across the area and Thatcher was able to collect and clear.

Newcastle still had most of the possession, but were reduced to shooting from distance, with Lee Bowyer’s tame effort from 25 yards rolling harmlessly wide of James’ right post.

However on 18 minutes City fell behind to a typical Michael Owen strike. City failed to clear an aerial ball, which then fell to Bowyer who’s short angled pass fell into Owen’s path, and despite a challenege from Dunne he slid the ball past James into the corner to put Newcastle one up.

Dunne picked up the first booking of the match after 22 minutes when he ankle-tapped Owen.

Jihai Sun escaped Babayaro’s clutches on 26 minutes to put in a teasing cross to Vassell. The striker’s header looped goalwards, and although Given touched it over Graham Poll adjudged that Joey Barton had fouled the keeper as he made the save.

Newcastle were having the balance of the play, and a fine passing move ended with Shearer heading an N’Zogbia cross a couple of yards over James’ bar.

The City keeper then showed his true class on 40 minutes when, with Owen bearing down on goal after collecting a pass after a Distin slip, James cut down the England’s striker’s space and saved with his feet, unspectacular but truly effective.

Owen was nearly on the score sheet again two minutes later, when ghosting between Distin and Dunne, he volleyed on the turn from six yards and just over James’ cross bar. 

Half time 

City began the second half by applying more pressure than in the fisrt, but the home side were able to soak it up with the Blues unable to find a way through their defence.

Shortly after James had come out of his area to volley clear of Owen, a Shearer cross looked dangerous but just evaded his one-time England partner.

On 57 minutes City had a corner, and although Dunne made excellent contact his header was well over Given’s bar.

A minute later, Ireland replaced Musampa.

Jihai Sun put in a cross having found a lot of space on the right, but his ball to Barton was just behind the midfielder when he needed it in front to get a shot in.

Lee Croft replaced Aibierski with 15 minutes to go.

With Croft on, the Chinese international moved to the left, and with 12 minutes left he volleyed with his right foot from the edge of the area, but the ball flew well over.

Barely a minute later, Owen nearly made it wo when he just failed to connect with a Clark cross from the left, sliding into the six yard box but just missing out.

As time began to run out, City were putting more pressure on, coming closest when Dunne headed just wide from a corner.

With only two minutes left, a Distin back-pass nearly looped over James, but the keeper was able to head the ball back away from danger.

City threw everything forward in the dying seconds, with a lobbed Jihai Sun pass finding Ireland, but the youngster could only find the side-netting with his shot.

At the very end of injury time, Owen was nearly the provider as he slid a pass across to Babayaro, but his shot sped across the face of goal.

The final whistle blew straight away, with City no doubt rueing the fact that the deadly Michael Owen’s skill in front of goal was all that separated the two sides on the day.