Match ends, Newcastle United 0, Manchester City 2.
NewcastleNewcastle United0Man CityManchester City2
Manchester City moved to the top of the Premier League as they overcame a Newcastle side for whom Cheick Tiote had a goal controversially disallowed.
Edin Dzeko slid in to give City an early lead and control of the contest.
But Tiote's long-range blast, ruled out after an offside Yoan Gouffran was judged to have interfered with play, sparked the hosts into life.
Samir Nasri was hurt by a Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa tackle before Alvaro Negredo's breakaway goal sealed victory.
Victory for Arsenal at Aston Villa on Monday would ensure Manchester City's stay at the top of the table is short-lived.
Nonetheless, the win at St James' Park takes City's season's tally to 94 goals - one more than in the entire 2012-13 campaign - and improves their previously suspect away form to four victories in their last five league games on the road.
City will rightly have complaints about a crude second-half tackle by Yanga-Mbiwa that resulted in Nasri being taken off on a stretcher and only a yellow card awarded to the Newcastle man, but the Magpies are likely to be just as aggrieved by referee Mike Jones's performance.
His decision to rule out what initially seemed a legitimate leveller from Tiote just after the half-hour mark left Newcastle manager Alan Pardew incensed and bewildered on the sidelines.
His side, fuelled by a sense of injustice, responded with a spirited performance but they ultimately lacked the quality up front to right what they saw as a wrong.
City have no such shortcomings and the intelligence and speed of their attacking movement had already pulled apart Newcastle as the impressive Aleksandar Kolarov surged beyond Gouffran to supply a low cross for Dzeko to steer into the roof of the net in the eighth minute.
Newcastle's pretty passing patterns had mostly been restricted to the middle of the pitch by the industrious visitors, before Jones's decision to rule out Tiote's strike.
Retreating after his side's corner was cleared, Gouffran dodged his team-mate's shot which continued on past a rooted Joe Hart into the City goal.
Gouffran was certainly offside, but after protests from Manuel Pellegrini's side and discussions with the assistant referee, Jones ruled that he was also interfering with play.
The incident added volume to the atmosphere at St James' Park and venom to Newcastle's tackling.
Cabaye and Moussa Sissoko were both booked for dissent, with Fernandinho and Pablo Zabaleta also having their names taken before the half-time whistle was drowned in jeers.
Pardew and Pellegrini exchanged angry words as they went off at the break, while the Newcastle manager also sought out the referee.
The game swung in the balance after play resumed with Cabaye threatening from distance for the hosts, and Negredo and Nasri almost applying finishing touches to more intricate City attacks.
Loic Remy, who has now scored in just one of his last 10 appearance, wasted the hosts' best chance, firing straight into Hart's legs as the City defence were caught under a long ball.
The five-minute break in play caused by Yanga-Mbiwa's swipe at Nasri's knees came to an end when the France international was carried off close to tears.
Although stretched at times, City finished the stronger and, after Fernandinho had hit the bar with a header and Steven Taylor cleared off the line, Negredo scampered clear to ease their nerves, rolling in after a fortunate ricochet off Tim Krul in the final moments.
A gallery of the day's Premier League action is available on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Krul
- 13Yanga-MbiwaBooked at 74minsSubstituted forHaidaraat 82'minutes
- 3Santon
- 24TiotéBooked at 49mins
- 6Williamson
- 27Taylor
- 7SissokoBooked at 37mins
- 8AnitaSubstituted forCisséat 73'minutes
- 14Remy
- 4CabayeBooked at 38mins
- 11GouffranSubstituted forBen Arfaat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Cissé
- 10Ben Arfa
- 15Gosling
- 19Haidara
- 21Elliot
- 22Marveaux
- 28Ameobi
Man City
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 1Hart
- 5ZabaletaBooked at 45mins
- 13Kolarov
- 42Y TouréSubstituted forGarcía Fernándezat 61'minutes
- 4Kompany
- 26Demichelis
- 8NasriSubstituted forMilnerat 79'minutes
- 25FernandinhoBooked at 40mins
- 10DzekoSubstituted forNavasat 52'minutes
- 9Negredo
- 21Silva
Substitutes
- 2Richards
- 6Lescott
- 7Milner
- 14García Fernández
- 15Navas
- 22Clichy
- 30Pantilimon
- Referee:
- Michael Jones
- Attendance:
- 49,423
Match Stats
Home TeamNewcastleAway TeamMan City
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away15
Live Text
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 0, Manchester City 2.
Goal!
Goal! Newcastle United 0, Manchester City 2. Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a fast break.
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Attempt saved. Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Milner.
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Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City).
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Attempt blocked. Steven Taylor (Newcastle United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Williamson.
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Michael Williamson (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City).
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Offside, Newcastle United. Michael Williamson tries a through ball, but Steven Taylor is caught offside.
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Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by James Milner (Manchester City).
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Attempt missed. Loïc Remy (Newcastle United) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Yohan Cabaye with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Newcastle United. Conceded by Pablo Zabaleta.
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Attempt saved. Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by David Silva.
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Attempt saved. Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Yohan Cabaye.
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Attempt missed. Álvaro Negredo (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
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Fernandinho (Manchester City) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Jesús Navas with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Attempt blocked. Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Álvaro Negredo.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
