Newcastle managed to snub their noses at the big freeze and get today’s game on but they couldn’t get the better of an even more stubborn opponent in the shape of Roberto Mancini’s travelling City side.
No outfit in the top flight are better on the road than the current crop of Blues; a most unfamiliar but hugely welcome story for anyone who follows City’s fortunes on a regular basis.
Having already clocked up three pointers at West Ham, Fulham, West Ham, Blackpool and Wigan, Mancini’s men flew to the north-east unbeaten in four trips in the top flight but stunned by the home loss to Everton that cost the club the Christmas number one slot for the first time in 81 years.
It didn’t take long for that game to be wiped from the memory as Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez had the Blues two up within the opening six minutes.
Tim Krul the young keeper gifted the Blues the first clearing straight to Tevez who fed Barry for his first Premier League goal since August.
Four minutes later Tevez the provider became Tevez the predator as he tucked away the second, slicing the ball into the roof of the net after a cross from Toon old boy Milner. It was the perfect start and set up a perfect ending.
City travelled without former skipper Kolo Toure, banned for receiving two yellow cards against David Moyes’ side.
Mancini had the option of four internationals - Micah Richards, Jerome Boateng, Joleon Lescott or Dedryck Boyata - to draft into the middle alongside Vincent Kompany.
In the end the manager chose to combat the threat of England powerhouse Andy Carroll with Lescott but also brought Boateng in to add height at the expense of Pablo Zabaleta.
Mario Balotelli also found himself on the bench as Nigel de Jong returned to the midfield.
The darling of the Tyne, Carroll and City skipper Tevez came into the match in joint second place in the race for the Golden Boot with ten goals apiece unsurprisingly both went on the enhance their chances of lifting the end of season scoring prize.
Boxing Day has traditionally been a good day in the football calendar for City with this victory stretching to five the years since they suffered a loss on St Stephen’s Day. They also enjoy playing the Magpies and began the day unbeaten in battle with the Toon army in the previous eight skirmishes.
This encounter seldom looked destined to feather the Magpies survival nest either. From the moment that double salvo slammed into the solar plexus of the home side there was only ever likely to be one winner but Newcastle went down with all hands on deck.
They pulled one back when Carroll netted after 72 minutes but nerves and the destination of the points were settled nine minutes from time thanks to Tevez’ deflected effort.
A happy Christmas indeed.
