- Elano (38), Fernandes (76)
- Date:2008-01-02
- Kick-off:19:45
- Venue:St James' Park
- Attendance:50956
- Referee:Atkinson, M
Live Commentary
90mins
City were comfortable in the second half, their only worry came 30 seconds into the period with that Owen chance, and always kept Newcastle at arms length. The crowd made their feelings known as boos rang out at the final whistle.
88mins
Sven-Goran Eriksson tries to run some time off the clock and replaces Vassell with Rolando Bianchi.
87mins
Fernandes is late with a tackle on Emre and picks up a yellow card and this free kick is in a dangerous position for the home side, a case of now or never for the home side.
85mins
City are well in control as the game nears a conclusion as it seems Newcastle have resigned themselves to defeat. The side may consider themselves unlucky as the first goal came against the run of play and Hart has made a couple of brilliant saves.
82mins
The crowd is obviously unhappy with what-will-be United's third consecutive defeat and start to vent their frustration at the Newcastle bench.
79mins
Newcastle work the ball nicely up field and tee up Butt, 25 yards out, but his drilled shot is brilliantly saved by Hart.
78mins
Vassell is penalised for a foul on Beye and has rather too much to say for himself and goes into the referee's notebook.
76mins
Corluka and Vassell combine well in the box and the latter lays the ball off to the substitute Fernandes, who makes an immediate impact with a drilled finish from 12 yards out.
75mins
City bring some fresh legs into their midfield and replace Ireland with Gelson Fernandes.
74mins
Nicky Butt clashes with Dietmar Hamann and has to leave the field to have some treatment - a worrying sign for Newcsatle fans as they have made all their substitutions.
73mins
Newcastle win a corner but N'Zgobia's cross is headed wide by Cacapa, although he was under pressure.
72mins
It is the last throw of the dice from Sam Allardyce as he replaces defender Faye with midfield playmaker, Emre.
70mins
Manchester City decide to make their first change and bring on Kelvin Etuhu for the man who has, so far, made the difference, Elano.
67mins
Neither side has created much in the final third but some of City's one-touch play has been sublime, although Sven Goran Eriksson would like a second goal to ease the nerves.
64mins
'Big Sam' has decided to make a second change and replaces Damien Duff with Jose Sanchez Enrique.
62mins
Cacapa is caught in possession and City launch a swift counter with Elano arrowing a ball towards Vassell in the box but Steven Taylor makes a great challenge to avert the danger.
60mins
Duff again does well down the left and his cross is met by Owen but he cannot direct it on goal and the chance has gone.
59mins
The fans are doing their best to keep the players going and Owen is playing a lot higher up the pitch, on the shoulder of the last man, which is causing a worry for City but they are dealing with it well at the moment.
56mins
The second half has yet to kick into life with very little happening in an attacking sense, but N'Zogbia's 35-yard shot was not too far away in the end.
53mins
Nicky Butt's lofted pass over the top almost catches City out as Dunne leaves it with Owen closing down, but an outstretched hand from Hart manages to save the day.
50mins
Although nothing has happened on the pitch since that early second-half chance for Owen, his appearance at least has galvanised the fans and they are rallying behind the players.
47mins
It was an almost instant impact from the England international but Owen's shot from the edge of the box, after a good pass from N'Zgobia, is saved well by Hart.
46mins
Sam Allardyce has decided to bring on Michael Owen as his side needs a goal and he replaces Martins. City, who have made no changes, get the game restarted.
45mins
Newcastle were on top for much of the first period but City did look dangerous when they came forward and actually finished the half the stronger.
44mins
The Citizens earn a free-kick in a dangerous position and this would rub salt into the wound. Petrov's curling shot though is well gathered by Given.
42mins
City are finishing strongly and their one-touch play is causing United problems but Ireland and Corluka have both missed the target with long-range shots
41mins
Goalscorer Elano catches his marker, Meite, late and picks up a yellow card for his troubles.
41mins
Newcastle are rocked as Petrov slides the ball through to Elano only to be denied by a good tackle from N'Zogbia, and Michael Ball fires his follow up high into the stands.
38mins
Stephen Ireland plays a lovely ball to Darius Vassell in the box and his back heel is beautifully struck home by Elano to give the visitors the lead - against the run of play.
36mins
There is a stoppage in play as Richard Dunne draws blood after clashing heads with Mark Viduka, although he should be OK to carry on.
35mins
The pace of the game has just dropped off a little after a frantic ten minutes or so but chances are starting to come and it can't be long before the opening goal.
33mins
Newcastle launch a quick counter through Damien Duff and he manages to find his way to the edge of the box but then slices his shot wide.
31mins
Elano plays a lovely first-time ball through for Martin Petrov and his thunderous 25-yarder is heading for the top corner until Shay Given makes a fantastic save.
28mins
Quick feet and a couple of step-overs from N'Zogbia creates an opening from himself but on his weaker foot, 12 yards out, his shot is weak and Hart saves easily again.
27mins
Martins and N'Zogbia combine well to set the latter away down the left and his cross is only inches away from Viduka as the Toon continue to dominate.
25mins
Sam Allardyce will be delighted his side has woken up as they are looking dangerous. This time James Millner's 25-yard curler is well gathered by Hart but Newcastle are on top.
24mins
A neat back-heel from Mark Viduka gives Martins a great chance but, from out of nowhere, Micah Richards makes a great tackle to deny the Nigerian, although the home side feel there was a push in the area.
22mins
The game is just starting to open up as City work the ball straight up the other end and tee-up Elano but his volley goes wide.
21mins
The Magpies look to counter quickly and Obafemi Martins goes on a charging run. He drills for goal from 25 yards out and Hart makes a good save to keep the scores level.
20mins
Manchester City have just wasted a golden opportunity from a horror back pass by Claudio Cacapa. Stephen Ireland got their first but missed the target with his effort.
19mins
Perhaps there has been an overkill of football over the last couple of weeks as even the fans are finding it hard to get excited. Still no chances have been created.
18mins
The men from Manchester show a glimpse of the play that has seen them 'unbeatable' at home with some lovely one-touch play but the final ball is poor and Newcastle clear.
16mins
The flow of the game is almost at pre-season pace and nothing much has been created. It is almost hard to believe that this is the same City side that is going for fourth place in the table.
13mins
It is not exactly a thrilling game as yet but it is the Magpies who are shading the early exchanges and they are keeping City pegged back.
11mins
United take it short and after a couple of jinks, Duff centres the ball and it is not properly dealt with by the visitors. The ball falls for Faye but he doesn't really connect with his shot and it is an easy save for Hart.
10mins
Good link-up down the left creates some space for Damien Duff and his dangerous-looking cross is headed behind by Richard Dunne.
8mins
City launch their first serious attack and earn a corner but Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye rises high for the home side to head the danger away.
6mins
Newcastle earn a corner and Charles N'Zogbia whips the ball into the near post, Habib Beye gets between two City defenders to flick a header towards goal that Hart does well to save.
5mins
It has been quite a sluggish and scrappy start to the game with both teams perhaps suffering from the hectic Christman schedule and nothing much has happened.
2mins
James Milner latches onto a long ball over the top and snaps a shot towards goal which forces Joe Hart into an early save.
1mins
It could be regarded as a good chance to end respective poor runs by both clubs as the Magpies have won just one of their last four home games, while City have not won away since the opening day.
0mins
The referee Martin Atkinson blows his whistle and Newcastle United get the game underway, with both sides looking to get their firrst win of the festive period.
0mins
A minute's applause is respected by both sets of players and the fans for Motherwell's Phil O'Donnell, who died on Saturday.
0mins
Man City: Hart, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Ireland, Hamann, Elano, Corluka, Petrov, Vassell
0mins
Newcastle: Given, Beye, Taylor, Cacapa, N'Zogbia, Milner, Butt, Faye, Duff, Viduka, Martins
0mins
Despite the talk of wrapping Elano in cotton wool, the Brazilian starts at St James' Park tonight but City are without Michael Johnson and Emile Mpenza, and Geovanni also misses out.
0mins
Newcastle, who have picked up just one point from their last three games, are without Alan Smith and Joey Barton but do welcome back Michael Owen from injury, although he does start on the bench
Match Preview
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Match Report
Sam Allardyce's job could well be on the line if his abject Newcastle United lose at Championship side Stoke City in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Manchester City became the latest team to pile the agony on the under-pressure boss as the Magpies slipped to a third successive defeat.
The win takes City into fourth place, ahead of Liverpool, as they enjoyed their first away win since their opening day 2-0 success at West Ham.
But there was no denying that City fully deserved their first double over Newcastle for more than 40 years with goals in each half from Elano and Gelson Fernandes.
Elano's strike after 38 minutes meant that Newcastle had conceded the opening goal at St. James' Park for the sixth successive home game.
Yet it had all started brightly for the home side as Habib Beye had an early close-range header cleared off the line.
In fact, Newcastle had plenty of the play and possession but lacked the necessary killer punch in front of goal.
A mistake by Claudio Cacapa let in Stephen Ireland but he wasted a great opportunity to put City ahead.
Newcastle hit back with a couple of stinging shots from Obafemi Martins and Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye that were both well handled by Joe Hart.
Elano flashed a drive from the left that Shay Given did well to turn over the top, but the Brazilian was to make a later impact.
That came after 38 minutes when there was a clever one-two with Darius Vassell before curling a left-footed shot beyond Given.
Allardyce hauled off the woeful Martins at half-time and replaced him with Michael Owen, who almost scored within 20 seconds.
A defence-splitting pass from Charles N'Zogbia saw Owen latch on to the ball only to see his effort strike the right knee of Hart and flash behind.
But that was a rare scoring opportunity for Newcastle as City dictated the game and a double substitution by Sven-Goran Eriksson paid dividends.
It came after 76 minutes when Kelvin Etuhu cleverly held up a ball into the area from Vedran Corluka, who showed great awareness before picking out fellow substitute Fernandes.
He in turn finished superbly for his first Premier League goal just 40 seconds after running onto the pitch.
That goal signalled the end for Newcastle, who have now lost seven of their last 12 league games and, over the four festive period matches, have now picked up just one point.
Newcastle United Team
Manchester City Team
Newcastle United | Manchester City |
Corners
| 8 | 7 |
Fouls
| 8 | 12 |
Goal attempts
| 16 | 12 |
Shots off target
| 6 | 5 |
Offsides
| 2 | 6 |



88mins
Emre whips the ball into box and the ball falls for Taylor but his hurried shot is saved by Hart.