The sunshine above the Etihad was deceptive as a bitterly cold afternoon welcomed the battle-hardened ardent supporters of these two wonderful football clubs.
Matches between City and the Magpies have over the seasons served up excellent fayre, and I say that not only because in all major confrontations between the two, the signposts look to have favoured City.
With Mancini having started the week inviting the Stretford contingent to come and collect the Premier League title trophy, then passed towards rebuking his captain for appearing for his country after eight weeks out of the City limelight, he must have almost sent them without brief yesterday to go and enjoy their football and prepare for Wembley.
Fielding a very strong line-up with Kompany back in tow at the expense of Nastasic who on Friday was seen wearing one trainer and one flip-flop, Nasri selected instead of Milner and the Mighty Atom restored to fitness and on the bench, the stage was set inviting the team to play for their Wembley places.
And right from the start City meant business albeit in a relaxed sense as they plied their trade in excellent manner, moving the ball quickly all around the field, pointing and probing in their bids to prise open a stubborn Newcastle, but not a Newcastle intent on parking any kind of bus.
First half possession stats must have been an embarrassment to Alan Pardew whose team did not know whether to compete in this match or save themselves for the Europa League in midweek and they looked in many ways to have fallen between the two stools as they were bombarded by wave after wave of sky blue with El Magico back to his best form.
With no doubled up ranks of channel blockers Silva quickly got between the lines and dictated play in a way he has not often found easy this season, but he proved that once you surrender some space to him he is beyond compare in the Premier League where the midfielders of the Champions Elect only play for half a match if that, as best demonstrated in the midweek internationals.
It was a mystery that it took 41 minutes for City to open the scoring. Early chances all fell City’s way and the blocks and saves came in abundance. Dzeko should have scored, Barry blazed over whereas if he’d been in front of his own goal he might have found the corner of the net and Tevez had one ruled offside which prompted a one-man pitch incursion, the perpetrator being accosted by Stewards before GMP’s finest took him away to a Geordie chorus of “You’re not going to Wembley!”.
And to 41 minutes when the ball like an Australian Rugby League attack through countless sets of feet and out to Clichy. His inch perfect low cross got behind the Magpies back line and Tevez simply wanted it more than the last Newcastle defender.
With the door unlocked it was party time. The Blues swarmed forward seemingly at will. Another neat interchange down the left saw Nasri dart past two defenders and place a pass slightly behind Silva, who dug it out from his feet, tapped it slightly to one side and then slotted it inside the far post in masterly fashion. It was a move and goal to drool over.
Elliot made a string of good saves to deny Dzeko and Clichy amongst others but half time was a welcome relief to Newcastle who had only seen 28% possession, much of which was in their own half.
City could be forgiven for thinking today’s work was finished. It probably was, but Pardew sent his boys out with a different sense of purpose for the start of the second half and chances went their way in the early exchanges. Pinball was the name of the game as the ball pinged across the six yard box and Cisse should have at least got his name on the scoresheet. Then ten minutes in, Cabaye fired one closely over the bar and that effectively signalled the end of Newcastle’s positive contribution to the match.
In the very next move Silva’s corner found Tevez whose edge of the box shot was only cleared as far as Barry who drilled in a shot which returning captain Kompany diverted past Elliot. Cue City to continue to outclass the Mags. And just before Mancini got round to ringing in the changes and with the ball again buzzing around the Newcastle box and the Blue tide now becoming a Blue flood a clearance found its way to Yaya around 30 yards out.
In typical he-man style Yaya set off for goal busting his way through the defence like the Pontypool Front Row. He was forced wide but still had enough to hammer a shot which slightly caught Perch, but which was still too hard for Elliot to overcome. Yaya always seems to score against Newcastle and this proved to be the case once again as the scoreboard proudly showed 4-0, but was itching to move again.
Quite how it remained at 4-0 is another mystery. Mancini brought on Garcia, Sinclair and Aguero all of whom could have scored, Sinclair’s curler being the pick of the bunch. Tevez was disappointed not to be replaced, as he enquired, but this time Mancini told him he was staying on.
So City’s season carries on with another impressive home win. But the usual flukes were going on at the Stadium of Light where a scruffy own goal sent the title one step closer to Old Trafford, relieved Newcastle to the extent that their neighbours now look to be in a poorer relegation plight than them and sentenced O’Neill to the Premier League Manager’s Recycle Bin.
City were a class apart today looking more like they did last season and free of the fears of Everton.
The Derby is next up and tomorrow we will discover if there is to be two Derbies within a week. Rumours continue to abound in connection with Mancini’s future and the future of half the team, but a display like this suggests there is not a lot wrong.
Just what match the sponsors were watching to suggest that Nasri was man-of-the-match was another mystery. He looked a bit better than recently but there were much better efforts from Tevez, Clichy and Kompany.
The Pedmachine got the opportunity to speak to John Guidetti who told me he was getting back to full fitness, working hard with the reserves and getting amongst the goals. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would like to see him get a chance at first team level.
So roll on next Monday and let’s hope that City can turn on this style as they did last season. It was only 6-1.
UPCOMING FIXTURES:
all times East Manchester
Mo 08Apr 20h00 The Rags, The Swamp, PL
Su 14Apr 16h00 Chelsea, Wembley, FACSF
We 17Apr 19h45 Wigan Athletic, The Etihad, PL
Su 21 Apr 13h30 Spurs, White Hart Lane, PL
Sa 27 Apr 12h45 West Ham United, The Etihad, PL
Sa 04 May 15h00 Swansea, The Liberty Stadium, PL
Su 12 May 15h00 Reading, The Madejski Stadium, PL
Su 19 May 16h00 Norwich City, The Etihad, PL
City vs West Brom To Be Rearranged
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