Pre match
The good news is that Robinho is fit to take his place in the starting line-up. Micah Richards is also fit enough to start, and he will do at right back, in place of the suspended Pablo Zabaleta. Tal Ben-Haim comes into the team to partner Richard Dunne at centre back.
Elano is rested and on the bench, so Didi Hamann (an unpopular man around St James’ Park for leaving them after just one season) comes into a holding midfield role.
Don’t forget full commentary is available now on MCFCTV.com.
The match
Despite the unrest surrounding Newcastle, their fans still packed St James’ and were giving the side great backing, as United’s players huddled up prior to City getting the game underway.
A burst from Micah Richards at right back helped City win the game’s first corner on three minutes as Wright-Phillips threatened an early cross after latching on to his throughball.
The resulting corner had an element of pinball about it with the ball bouncing everywhere in and around the Toon box, but ultimately it was cleared away to safety for the home side.
And the native crowd were upset 10 minutes in as Ben-Haim felled Martins just outside the penalty following a promising run and it almost proved costly as set-piece expert Geremi’s free-kick only just cleared Joe Hart’s crossbar.
But two minutes later the howls were back around St James’ Park in a big way as referee Rob Styles put himself in the spotlight once again with a pair of controversial decisions...in Newcastle eyes.
Firstly, as Robinho broke away into the penalty area, Beye tackled the Brazilian from behind, appeared to get some of the ball, but not according to Mr Styles...penalty.
The referee then added to the home side’s misery by sending off Beye for the professional foul before the top hat was eventually put on it as Robinho calmly sent Given the wrong way to give City a 14th minute lead.
For the record the first ‘Sack the Board’ chant came after about 20 minutes, which divided the home support from those keen to leave that outside, and the rest just frustrated at the bad start to another cold night in Newcastle.
Ironic cheers broke out just after the half hour mark as Styles awarded Newcastle a free-kick (even that though was debatable).
And from that set-piece a clash between Hart and Dunne saw the skipper receive a few minutes worth of treatment for a facial injury.
With Dunne off the pitch his Irish international colleague Damien Duff should have made it 1-1 but a poor left footed finish from close range was gratefully fielded by Hart.
Duff was involved again just a minute later as Javi Garrido’s pull on him earnt the Spanish full-back a yellow card.
The extra man was giving City more possibilities on the break and they had showed that without any real end product during the first half as Wright-Phillips, Robinho and Jo all caused problems to Kinnear’s backline.
But as the half drew to a close Newcastle got back into the game with an awful goal on 44 minutes. The cross from the left was cleared by Dunne only to bring about three deflections before falling kindly for Shola Ameobi six-yards out and despite his poor connection the slice was enough to beat Hart and bring a bit of relief to the home fans and the 10-men of United.
HALF TIME: Newcastle 1-1 City
There were no half time substitutions for either side as Newcastle got the action underway in the second half.
The hosts were clearly buoyed by their goal late in the first half and with the fans back concentrating on the team instead of the referee the 10-men were generating a bit of momentum and 10 minutes into the second half had looked the side most likely to get the next goal.
After taking a couple of heavy knocks during the game, enough was enough for Micah Richards on 58 minutes, as with what proved to be problem with his left ankle he was replaced by Nedum Onuoha.
Vincent Kompany had City’s first shot in anger of the second half from way out on 61 minutes as the Blues had been reduced to hanging in there rather than taking the game to the Toon.
And the Newcastle pressure was to pay just minutes later as Geremi’s right wing corner brought about their second bizarre goal of the night...courtesy of Richard Dunne.
As the ball dropped it just seemed to hit the Blues skipper on the foot and even if he’d have tried it for real he couldn’t have placed it in Hart’s top left hand corner any better. Newcastle’s luck had certainly taken a turn for the best.
Ched Evans was instantly introduced by Mark Hughes in place of Hamann to add more striking threat as City had simply not made the most of Beye’s early red card.
Ameobi almost made it three for Newcastle on 74 minutes after good work by Duff but he just couldn’t turn his cross home much to the relief of the City fans high behind the goal.
City themselves fashioned a nice move shortly after, but again it was a shot from distance, as Robinho’s effort from 20-yards failed to trouble Given.
Hughes played his last card on 83 minutes, bringing on Danny Sturridge for Garrido, switching to three at the back in the meantime. And it almost paid instant dividends as Ireland’s volley from the edge of the box brought an amazing save from fellow countryman Given.
But Stephen Ireland and City wouldn’t be denied for much longer as with four minutes left the Blues pulled level. Kompany found Robinho and his measured ball was taken on by Ireland before he toe-poked it beyond the keeper.
City then almost nicked it as Ireland slid a fine ball across the face of goal but in the circumstances both teams would have to be happy with a point. Although Mark Hughes will not be a happy man.
FULL TIME: Newcastle 2-2 City
