One Point in Twelve!!
Newcastle United 0 Man. City 2
3 January 2008
When I heard the team I thought it might be better. Milner on the right and Duff on the left supported by N'Zogbia with two men up front, Viduka and Martins and Owen lying in wait on the bench.
It would be easy to question the wisdom of playing Butt and Faye together in the centre of midfield but let's see how it pans out.
The first half hour wasn't bad with the game actually flowing a bit with The Toon probably just edging it but with City always dangerous with players like Petrov and Elano.
The visitors were confident on the ball and I like the way they pass it crisply and confidently, always looking to bring Petrov's pace into play.
It was following one cheeky little passage of play that the talented Elano got enough space to have a clear sight of goal and, even though he did not hit it too cleanly, there was enough on the shot to take it into the corner of the net.
Confidence visibly ebbed!
I was just getting back to my seat when I saw Michael Owen clean through on the keeper, who stood his ground and saved well. One for the future is young Joe Hart. City had now taken the upper hand and the game was as good as over when sub Etuhu did well to free the other sub Fernandes who confidently rattled the ball home. He had been on the pitch a matter of seconds and this was literally his first touch. Good substitutions, Sven!!
All over bar the shouting.
There were bits and pieces from Newcastle but still a lot lacking. Like everyone else I am very wary about Sunday's trip to Stoke in the cup.
We hear a lot of talk about it taking up to 5 years to turn a club round. Well old Sven and his backroom staff haven't done too badly in five months, have they!? Roughly the same time Sam's been with us!!
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