Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0
Phil Foden scored a superb solo goal as Manchester City cruised to a 2-0 win over Newcastle and Ederson notched up 100 clean sheets for City.
Bernardo Silva scored Manchester City’s second as they took control of the game over the Magpies for whom Calum Wilson, who had scored just once for Newcastle since returning from World Cup duty, failed to put away a couple of great chances to score early on with the score at just 1-0.
Silva’s strike was City’s 1000th Premier League home goal, making them the sixth side to reach that landmark in the competition (160 at Maine Road, 840 at the Etihad).
And the first clean sheet in six games for City meant that goalkeeper Ederson notched up a long awaited 100th clean sheet for the club in 208 appearances.
He became the third fastest goalkeeper to reach that landmark after Petr Cech (180) and Pep Reina (198).
And there definitely seemed to be a sense of togetherness in the squad after Erling Haaland got involved in a fracas following a nasty tackle by Dan Burn on Jack Grealish. The two biggest players on both sides were booked.
That and some professional time wasting at the corner flag saw the big Norwegian enhance his popularity with the home crowd who serenaded him at the end of a satisfying afternoon for City as they temporarily closed the gap at the top on Arsenal to two points prior to the Gunners’ game against Bournemouth.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0
Ederson: 7. Under pressure from the kick off, dropped a ball into the box but got excellent protection from the defenders in front of him. Dealt with Newcastle danger in the second half and despite a wobbly clearance late on he earned his 100th clean sheet for the club with a last minute save from a Newcastle free kick.
Kyle Walker: 6. Defensively sound, forced Anthony Gordon to miskick just as he broke free and looked clear for a run on the goal with just Ederson to beat. Didn’t contribute as much going forward as Nathan Ake.
Manuel Akanji: 7. Callum Wilson gave him plenty to think about and they had a ’heated discussion’ about it during the first half on the sidelines that Pep Guardiola had to diffuse.
Ruben Dias: 7. Reassuring and commanding presence at the back. Great block to deny Alexander Isak.
Nathan Ake: 7. Didn’t have many issues from Miguel Almiron and looked confident on the ball.
Rodri: 8. Super deep cross to release Phil Foden for his goal and outmuscled Bruno Guimares and dominated midfield while Newcastle’s Brazilians floundered.
Kevin De Bruyne: 6. Another poor first half where some of his passes failed to come off. Enraged at the assistant referee after he was bowled over trying to get a cross in. Tried plenty of things in the second half.
Ilkay Gundogan: 8. Cruised around in midfield starting moves off and putting out fires. Headed Jack Grealish cross over after a front foot start by City.
Phil Foden: 8. Looked like he was making up for his lost time out of the side he was doing so much running. Great bit of skill to cut inside from the right, drive into the box, and score past Nick Pope with the aid of a deflection off Sven Botman. Had big Dan Burn on toast. At 22 years and 280 days has become the youngest player for Manchester City to reach 50 goal involvements (33 goals and 17 assists).
Jack Grealish: 8. Creativity from the left, some incisive passing, and direct running to draw Newcastle players to him. Developed a bit of aggro down his flank against ex-City full back Kieran Trippier and almost laid on a third goal for City but Phil Foden’s shot was saved.
Erling Haaland: 7. Relished the battle with Jamaal Lascelles. Headed wide after a great cross from Kevin De Bruyne in the first half and volleyed another over the bar from the Belgian in the second half. Got heavily involved in the game including a tussle with Dan Burn after the Newcastle man was booked for bringing down Jack Grealish.
Bernardo Silva (on for Kevin De Bruyne, 65): 7. Scored an early goal, pressing the tiring Newcastle players, and helped City retain possession.
GOALS – Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0
Man City 1, Newcastle Utd 0: 15. Phil Foden weaved his way into the box past 4 defenders and struck the opening goal from 6 yards out after receiving a deep cross field pass from the left side to the right from Rodri.
Man City 2, Newcastle Utd 0: 67. Bernard Silva was unselfishly set up by Erling Haaland who moved the ball along to the midfielder after a square ball from left flank by Jack Grealish after Nathan Ake won the ball and started the move through Rodri and up the left flank.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 2, Newcastle United 0
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Rodri, De Bruyne (Bernardo Silva 65), Gundogan (C), Foden, Grealish, Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, Phillips, Stones, Laporte, Alvarez, Mahrez, Palmer, Lewis
Bookings: Ake 58 (foul on Sean Longstaff); Haaland 74 (ungentlemanly conduct)
Goals: Foden 15; Bernardo Silva 67
Newcastle Utd: Pope, Trippier, Lascelles (C), Botman, Burn (Targett 87), S Longstaff (Willock 63), Guimares, Joelinton, Almiron (Murphy 77), Gordon, Wilson (Isak 63)
Newcastle Utd Subs not used: Dubravka, Saint-Maximin, Ritchie, Manquillo, Anderson
Bookings: Joelinton 53 (foul on Ruben Dias); Burn 74 (foul on Jack Grealish); Bruno Guimares 76 (handball); Lascelles 90+1 (foul on Erling Haaland)
Referee: Simon Hooper