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

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.

The crowd is obviously unhappy with what-will-be United's third consecutive defeat and start to vent their frustration at the Newcastle bench.

Newcastle work the ball nicely up field and tee up Butt, 25 yards out, but his drilled shot is brilliantly saved by Hart.

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.

Newcastle win a corner but N'Zgobia's cross is headed wide by Cacapa, although he was under pressure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Good link-up down the left creates some space for Damien Duff and his dangerous-looking cross is headed behind by Richard Dunne.

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.

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.

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.

James Milner latches onto a long ball over the top and snaps a shot towards goal which forces Joe Hart into an early save.

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.