MANCHESTER CITY 3
NEWCASTLE UNITED 1
Premier League
City of Manchester Stadium
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Kick-off 12.45pm

Craig Hope reports from the City of Manchester Stadium ...

MATCH REPORT

NEWCASTLE United slipped to their second league defeat of the season as Sven Goran-Eriksson and Manchester City ran-out 3-1 winners in the lunchtime kick-off at Eastlands.

It was the visitors who took the lead however, Oba Martins (29) plucking a Geremi throughball out of the air with his left-foot before side-footing home with his right in one swift movement from 12 yards out.

That was not before the restored Shay Given had made an excellent finger-tip stop from Elano's 20-yard volley which had seemed destined for the top corner.

But the Magpies could've been two ahead just minutes after Martins' strike, City keeper Joe Hart mis-controlling a backpass before recovering to hack away from his goal-line which just inches to spare.

Eriksson's men were level on 38 minutes, Stephen Ireland getting in behind Charles N'Zogbia before squaring across goal for Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov to slide home for his third in two games.

Given had to be at his best to prevent City from going in ahead at the break, racing from his line to save with is chest from Ireland with the Irish winger through on goal.

And it took just two minutes of the second period for the hosts to get their noses in front, Petrov burning by Taylor on the left flank before picking out Mpenza who headed back across goal and into the corner of the net past a wrong-footed Given.

Martins saw a snap shot hit the side-netting and Richards went close for City before Elano (87) struck the goal of the game.

The Brazilian rifling a 30-yard free-kick into Given's top corner to seal the points for the Manchester club.

SECOND HALF ACTION (click refresh for latest)

It's all over at Eastlands with Sven Goran-Eriksson's men 3-1 winners.

90+2min - Enrique charges up the left flank and wins a corner as Richards slide to toe the ball away from the Spaniard. N'Zogbia takes and Smith connects in the air but flashes his effort over the bar.

There will be four minutes added time.

89min - Geovanni replaces goalscorer Elano.

87min - MAN CITY GOAL (3-1): Another fantastic goal. Brazilian ELANO cracks a 30-yard free-kick which spears through the Manchester air and into Shay Given's top corner. Emre repalces Viduka before the restart.

86min - Michael Ball replaces Michael Johnson.

84min - Petrov spins Taylor midway inside United's half and slips a pass to the overlapping Mpenza, the Belgian shoots from just inside the Magpies penalty area but Rozehnal is sliding to block and forces a corner. Faye replaces Taylor before the flag-kick is taken and from that the sub is able to clear with his first touch.

82min - Petrov is proving a real thron in the United side and gets away down the left once more, this time his cross eludes everyone before Ireland returns for Mpenza but he shoots wide from 12 yards out.

79min - It'a corner on the right for United and Milner's delivery is eventually worked to Taylor, he takes a touch and nicks inside Richards before seeing a low strike deflected wide amid a crowd of bodies inside the area. From the resluting flag-kick the hosts are able to break and Richards surges into the penalty area at speed from Petrov's pass, he cuts inside Enrique and should double City's lead with just Given to beat but his effort is weak and it's a glorious chance wasted for the Citizens.

78min - It's a neat passage of play from the hosts on the edge of United's area but Taylor cuts out a throughball with Petrov trying to get on the end of a one-two with Elano.

77min - Jose Enrique replaces skipper Geremi.

71min- Onuoha trips Viduka 40 yards out and Geremi cracks a dipping effort which has Hart back-pedalling to palm over the bar. Geremi's corner bounces around in the area and Richards is able to break, City have men over but Beye slides to challenge Richards just as he was in full throttle on halfway -  it's a good tackle which saves the Magpies.

70min - Elano has been outstanding all afternoon and glides with the ball inside United's half, he checks inside and curls goalwards but Given has read the effort and saves.

67min - Viduka has the ball infield and slips it to his left for Smith, he in turn slides through for Martins who has peeled off the shoulder of Dunne, the NIgerian elects to lash goalwards from just inside the area but can only fire into the side-netting when really a ball across goal may have been the better option.

65min - Viduka lays off for skipper Geremi 25 yards out, he gets away from Hamann and lets fly but Richards closes down the shot and it deflects behind for a corner. Mpenza heads away N'Zogbia's centre and when the ball is worked back to Rozehnal on the edge his weak shot is saved by Hart.

63min - There's another scare for the Magpies as Petrov picks out Ireland with a cross-field ball from left to right, the Irish winger loops the ball into the box first time and with Given impeded by the glare of the sun the ball drops right underneath his crossbar, the Toon keeper just manages to push onto the woodwork before collecting the rebound from the lurking Johnson.

58min - Nedum Onuoha replaces the injured Vedran Corluka.

57min - Shay pumps downfield and despite a suspicion of offside Milner races to get on the end of it, Hart has to rush from his line and the keeper and young United winger challenge in the air just outside the area with the ball bouncing loose before City clear.

52min - Elano spreads play and releases Petrov on the left, he tries to pick out the forward run of Johnson inside the area but Rozehnal and Taylor are on hand to clear between them.

49min - Milner crosses from the right but Dunne heads behind at the near post. N'Zogbia's flag-kick is cleared as far as Milner on the edge but his volley is charged down and City clear.

47min - MAN CITY GOAL (2-1): N'Zogbia's header to Taylor is seized upon by Petrov on halfway and the Bulgarian winger burns past Steven Taylor down the left-wing, he attacks the by-line and chips to the back post where EMILE MPENZA heads back across goal and into the corner of the net with Given wrong-footed.

United get the second half started with no changes for either side during the interval.

FIRST HALF ACTION

It's half-time at Eastlands with Martin Petrov cancelling out Oba Martins' opener ... 1-1 at the break.

45min - Martins has possession on the left and goes by Ireland, he crosses to the back post where Milner tries to pick out Viduka with a cushioned header, Dunne reads the pass and heads behind. Geremi's right-wing corner is met by Martins but he heads over from a difficult angle.

44min - The Magpies have a great opportunity to get their noses back in front as Milner breaks down the right - it's three on three but the young winger loses out as he tries to go by Richards.

41min - Johnson again slides the ball in-behind N'Zogbia for Ireland to chase, this time he is clean through on goal and is only denied City's second as Given rushes from his line to save with his chest - it's a super stop and it should be two.

40min - Three United players challenge in the air for the same ball allowing Elano to pick up the scraps as they collide, he takes one touch out of his feet 20 yards from goal but shoots wide right-footed.

38min - MAN CITY GOAL (1-1): Johnson chips in behind N'Zogbia for Ireland to chase on the right and thr young Irishman carries the ball into the box before sliding across goal for the arriving MARTIN PETROV to side-foot home from close range to brings the scores level and net his third of the season.

35min - City are back on the attack and Petrov's cross-shot is deflected towards goal, Given dives to save and luckily for United Rozehnal is there to hack behind for a corner with Mpenza poised to prod home from close range. Rozehnal heads away Petrov's flag-kick.

34min - Milner steals from Corluka before checking inside and crossing, Garrido gets there first to clear and City break with Johnson. He is halted  by Taylor as he advanced into the United penalty area, the ball falls for Hamann and he takes it on before spinning a shot wide of Given's goal from 25 yards out.

31min - Joe Hart has a scary moment as he mis-controls Garrido's back-pass, the ball spins towards his open goal but the City keeper manages to get back to hack away from the goal-line - it could easily have been two.

29min - NEWCASTLE GOAL (0-1): What a goal! Geremi searches for OBA MARTINS with a straight ball forward, the Nigerian springs off the shoulder of Micah Richards and brings it down brilliantly with his left-foot before finishing with his right in one swift movement from 12 yards out. That's the Toon No.9's fourth of the season.

28min - Petrov tries a similar effort at the other end which takes a slight deflection before rolling through to Given.

27min - Butt passes to Milner 25 yards out and his low shot is saved by Hart to his left - it was never really troubling the City stopper.

26min - Ireland breaks from midfield and is found by Corluka with a ball down the right-hand touchline, Ireland takes a touch and crosses, the looping delivery almost catches out Given and clips the crossbar before bouncing to safety.

24min - City exchange a series of passes on the edge of the United penalty area before Mpenza eventually digs out a cross from the right, Elano goes for a header at the far post when really he would've been far better leaving it for the arriving Petrov - the Brazilian's effort is weak and Given saves with ease.

22min - N'Zogbia slips the ball inside for Viduka, the Aussie striker shields the ball from Dunne and tries to slip in Milner with a clever reverse ball, if the United winger gets there first he has the whole goal to aim at but Richards slides to get a foot on the ball - Milner topples and claims for a penalty with TV replays showing he may have had a case.

18min - Milner surges into the area on the right and knocks the ball around Garrido, he then skips by the challenge of Dunne and attacks the by-line before pulling back in search of the unmarked Viduka, Richards has the read the situation however and is able to stretch and poke clear on the edge of the six-yard box.

16min - Taylor fails to deal with a high ball forward and Mpenza could be in, the ball is slighlty too far in front of the Belgian striker on Given races from his line to gather just inside the area.

14min - Ireland and Elano exchange passes 25 yards out, the goal opens up for the Brazilian and he volleys towards Given's top corner, it's a cracking strike but the Irishman is equal to it and throws himself through the air to palm around the post - it's a brilliant save. Rozehnal is able to clear the corner at the near post to relieve the pressure for the visitors.

12min - Nicky Butt is very fortunate not to enter the book as he trips the breaking Mpenza 25 yards out. Petrov curls the resulting free-kick left-footed at goal but Viduka is in the United wall and heads away.

10min - Viduka cuts in from the right and with few options available decides to have a shot, the effort lacks pace but troubles Hart with the Man City keeper scrambling to palm around the post. Geremi's corner is cleared by the head of Mpenza.

8min - The Magpies break up the left and Oba Martins works a yard for a shot just inside the area, his deflected effort spins across the face of goal and it looks as if Smith might get on the end of it at the far post but the ball has slightly too much pace on it and spins away for a corner. Rozehnal heads Milner's delivery into the ground and Hart is able to collect from underneath his crossbar.

7min - N'Zogbia's ball back to Given is short and on his wrong side, the Irishman tries to hack clear but Mpenza manages to get charge down, the ball spins free and it's a scary moment for United which is only relieved when Nicky Butt gets back to steal from Mpenza and clear.

6min -Petrov surges into the area on the left and cuts back on himself before looking for team-mates inside the area bit the ball is poor and Given gathers.

4min - Ireland tries to spring Mpenza clear with a threaded ball from just inside the centre-circle, it's a good pass but Habib Beye arrives on the scene to slide and intercept.

3min - Man City try to get Stephen Ireland away down the right, he is body-checked by N'Zogbia 30 yards from goal but Chris Foy waves away the City protests and Given collects.

Man City get the game undwerway with the rain having stayed away at Eastlands.

TEAM NEWS

SHAY Given returns to the Newcastle United starting line-up for Saturday's trip to Manchester City.

The 31-year-old stopper has yet to start a Premiership game this season but is back in the side at the expense of Steve Harper.

Mark Viduka is passed fit having missed the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Arsenal and starts alongside Oba Martins in attack.

Charles N'Zogbia will return to the left-back position and will be joined in defence by Habib Beye, Steven Taylor and David Rozehnal.

Skipper Geremi returns to the side with Nicky Butt, James Milner and Alan Smith completing the United midfield.

For Man City the only change from the 11 which drew 3-3 at Fulham is Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel who drops down to the bench with Joe Hart coming in.

TEAMS

NUFC: Shay Given, Habib Beye, Steven Taylor, David Rozehnal, Charles N'Zogbia, James Milner, Alan Smith, Geremi, Nicky Butt, Mark Viduka, Oba Martins
Subs: Steve Harper, Jose Enrique, Emre, Abdoulaye Faye, Matty Pattison

MCFC: Joe Hart, Vedran Corluka, Javier Garrido, Richard Dunne, Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland, Michael Johnson, Martin Petrov, Dietmar Hamann, Elano, Emile Mpenza 

Referee: Chris Foy
Attendance: tbc

FACTS AND FIGURES

United @ City of Manchester Stadium in Premiership

2006/07: Drew 0-0
2005/06: Lost 0-3
2004/05: Drew 1-1 Shearer
2003/04: Lost 0-1

United @ Maine Road in Premiership

2002/03: Lost 0-1
2000/01: Won 1-0 Shearer
1995/96: Drew 3-3 Albert 2, Asprilla
1994/95: Drew 0-0
1993/94: Lost 1-2 Sellars

Last five for United

Arsenal (a) 0-2
West Ham (h) 3-1 Viduka (2), N'Zogbia
Derby (a) 0-1
Wigan (h) 1-0 Owen
Barnsley (h) 2-0 Owen, Martins

Last five for City

Norwich (h) 1-0 Samaras
Fulham (a) 3-3 Petrov (2), Mpenza
Aston Villa (h) 1-0 Johnson
Blackburn (a) 0-1
Bristol City (a) 2-1 Mpenza, Bianchi

Top Goalscorers

NUFC: Charles N'Zogbia, Mark Viduka, Oba Martins - 3

MCFC: Michael Johnson, Geovanni, Rolando Bianci, Martin Petrov, Emile Mpenza - 2

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