Summary:
City came away from the north east with three points for the second game in a row, with Emile Mpenza’s goal on 80 minutes the difference. The Belgian had rattled the crossbar in the first half, and a poor Newcastle side only threatened after City had gone ahead, with Taylor’s header hitting the bar.
A great result, but the combination of results in the bottom half of the table mean that City are still only six points ahead of Charlton in third bottom place. But, with Fulham, Villa, Wigan and Sheffield United now between us and the Addicks City’s position is much better than just before the visit to the Riverside. The Good Friday home game against Charlton is still going to be a vital one, though.
Team news:
City made one change to the side that beat Middlesbrough, with Nedum Onuoha back for his first start since the draw with Bolton in January, Micah Richards having failed to recover from the ankle knock picked up for England in midweek. Michael Johnson, so impressive at the Riverside, kept his place with Stephen Ireland also having reported unfit after national duties.
Antoine Sibierski was on the bench against his old side.
The Match
On a chilly, grey day the opening phase was quiet until Solano put in a testing cross from the right, but Kieron Dyer was not tall enough to reach it.
The first scare for City came on 16 minutes when Johnson gave the ball away on the edge of his own box. Scott Parker latched onto a nudge through from Dyer and put the ball in the net, but the linesman had raised his flag for offside, although replays suggested that Newcastle were unlucky.
Neither side threatened until Dyer was found by another cross on 25 minutes, but his header lacked conviction and Isaksson collected with ease.
Solano latched onto a rare Distin mistake two minutes later and rifled in a shot from 25 yards that went a couple of yards safely wide of City’s right hand post.
However City went closest of all so far on the half hour. Barton found Mpenza, who made room to allow himself a left footed shot from 20 yards out. The Belgian’s effort beat Given but thundered against the crossbar and away to Sun Jihai, who couldn’t get a cross back in. The City fans, in the far top corner of the main stand, were now making the most noise as the game livened up.
Darius Vassell was the first player in Graham Poll’s book on 35 for a poor challenge on Moore.
As at the Riverside two weeks ago, the home crowd were getting restless as their team failed to break City down and then put most of their men behind the ball when City attacked.
Samaras replaced Hamann at half time.
The first major alarm of the second half came after 59 minutes when a Duff cross went all the way over to Solano on the right, but as he shaped to shoot, Sylvain Distin raced in and blocked the Peruvian.
Tempers on both benches frayed shortly afterwards when Samaras sought treatment near the touchline, but Graham Poll calmed the situation down on and off the pitch.
Craig Moore and Sun Jihai were booked in quick succession, but neither side was threatening the opposing goal as the game moved into the last 20 minutes.
The home crowd were growing restless again as their team failed to make an impression, and after chanting for James Milner they booed the decision to bring him on for Solano. Antoine Sibierski also came on with 14 minutes to go.
Martins went close on 79 minutes when he slid a shot just wide, but a minute later the home crowd had real cause for complaint when City took the lead!
The Blues broke downfield, Michael Johnson’s slide-rule pass found Emile Mpenza in the area and the Belgian smashed an unstoppable shot with his left foot wide of Given and into the back of the net! City’s fans erupted and many home supporters began to make for the exits.
Martins went close to connecting to a Duff pass in the area a minute later, but Isaksson raced out to claim, his first meaningful save of the match.
But the hosts came close to equalising as 87 minutes showed on the clock. Taylor headed onto the bar, Butt’s flying volley was deflected wide by Samaras and Carr rifled a shot just wide, all within 60 seconds of each other.
Joey Barton was booked as we moved into injury time, and Onyewu headed just wide from the resulting free kick move.
But that was the last real action of the game as City comfortably closed out the rest of stoppage time. The team applauded the City fans, camped high up in the corner, as they savoured a hard-fought and crucially important three points.
