By Paul Fletcher |
Manchester City scored twice in the opening five minutes as they bounced back from defeat against Everton by taking three points at Newcastle.
Gareth Barry struck with a shot from 12 yards after a mistake by Magpies goalkeeper Tim Krul and Carlos Tevez guided a low cross into the top corner.
Andy Carroll missed with a free header but did eventually reduce the deficit, nodding home a Joey Barton corner.
City made sure of victory when a Tevez shot went in off Fabricio Coloccini.
The home team had won their first game under recently appointed manager Alan Pardew, defeating Liverpool 3-1 on 11 December.
But they slipped down to ninth in the table ahead of Tuesday's trip to Tottenham as their poor record against City continued.
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City are unbeaten in their last nine league matches against Newcastle and remain undefeated on Boxing Day since their 4-3 reverse at Wigan in 2005.
The victory at St James' Park moved the visitors up to second in the Premier League, although Arsenal will reclaim that position if they defeat Chelsea on Monday.
City manager Roberto Mancini had cut a frustrated figure at times during last Monday's defeat at home to Everton but he could not have wished for a better start against Newcastle as his team continued their excellent away form.
Click to play
Pardew praises Newcastle despite defeat
Krul was partly at fault for the opening goal, sloppily giving the ball to Tevez as he tried to pick out a team-mate in only the second minute of the contest.
Argentina striker Tevez slipped a precisely-weighted pass to Barry, who surged into the area before slotting the ball through the legs of Krul with his first-time strike.
Tevez appeared to be buzzing all across the forward line and was involved in the second goal three minutes later.
Again City profited from poor play from the home side, with Cheik Tiote at fault as he lost possession in a dangerous area.
Tevez slipped the ball out wide to James Milner before racing into the area to convert his team-mate's low cross with a left-footed finish.
The Argentine celebrated by pulling a dummy out from his socks and placing it in his mouth.
Mancini's men looked threatening on the break and both Tevez and Aleksandar Kolarov peppered the Newcastle goal with long-range strikes.
But, after conceding two early goals, Pardew's side regrouped and arguably had the better of the play in the remainder of the opening half.
Wayne Routledge picked out an unmarked Carroll with a cross from the right and the striker should have reduced the deficit but his header was too close to the visitors' goalkeeper Joe Hart.
The aerially powerful Carroll was a frequent target for the home side and a knock-down from the number nine almost found team-mate Kevin Nolan, who picked up a booking during the game that will mean he is suspended for the forthcoming visit to White Hart Lane.
Carroll later went close with a long-range shot that took a deflection off Nolan, who later had a 20-yard effort saved by Hart.
The home side continued to play with plenty of effort and endeavour after the break and were eventually rewarded with a goal in the 72nd minute.
Click to play
Mancini praise Milner contribution
Carroll was allowed to surge into the six-yard box and headed Barton's corner into the ground and up into the roof of the net.
Newcastle started to dominate and should perhaps have equalised through Nolan, who met a knock-down from Ranger at the near post but stabbed his effort wide.
But City, who have won six of their 10 away games, avoided an anxious finish with their third goal nine minutes from time.
Tevez was again at the heart of the move, picking out substitute Adam Johnson and then accepting a return pass before shooting at goal.
The Argentina star's effort did appear to be on target but Krul was undoubtedly undone by the sizeable deflection off Coloccini as Tevez scored his 12th league goal of the season.
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew: "We made two big errors and that put us on the back foot.
"After that the performance was sensational at times and we caused a top team a lot of problems.
"The commitment and attitude of the players was spot on but it was not the first time we have gifted goals away and we have to quickly eradicate that, we must cut that out.
"I will take a lot of positives from the game. Some individual performances were outstanding - Cheik Tiote in the middle of the park and Andy Carroll up front."
Live text and stats
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Barclays Premier League
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | 1-3 | Man City | FT |
| (HT 0-2) | |||
|
| ||
Hide team line-ups and match stats
Newcastle
- 26 Krul
- 02 Coloccini
- 03 Jose Enrique
- 12 Simpson
- 27 Taylor
- 04 Nolanyellow card
- 07 Barton
- 10 Routledge (Ranger 60)
- 18 Gutierrez
- 24 Tiote
- 09 Carroll
Substitutes
Man City
- 25 Hartyellow card
- 04 Kompany
- 13 Kolarov
- 17 Boateng
- 19 Lescottyellow card
- 07 Milner
- 18 Barry
- 21 Silvayellow card (A Johnson 69yellow card)
- 34 De Jong
- 42 Yaya Toure (Vieira 83)
- 32 Tevez (Balotelli 85yellow card)
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