Not The Toon Punch Up The Media Wanted!

"In a remarkable twist the pair will go head-to-head - in a reserve game - for the first time since their alleged training ground brawl last May that ended Barton's City career and left Dabo in hospital - and pressing assault charges."

The £5.8million played the first half as the Magpies' second string fought out a 2-2 draw at his former club on Tuesday night ... but City decided not to risk Dabo ... for whatever reason.

Barton is yet to make his competitive debut for Newcastle having broken a metatarsal in a pre-season friendly against Carlisle in July.

Fellow first-team squad members Emre - who got on the scoresheet - Jose Enrique and Abdoulaye Faye also featured, the trio all playing 90 minutes in Manchester.

Manchester City report (official site): A healthy crowd turned out to see City go up against a Newcastle side containing one or two senior players on the comeback trail from injury. The most notable was, of course, Joey Barton but Emre and Faye were also in the starting line up.

Andreas Isaksson, on his first appearance of the season after hand and ankle injuries, made a fine block from Godsmark after 12 minutes, and a minute later his opposite number Forster made a superb double save from Grimes and then Etuhu on the follow up.

The Newcastle stopper was in action again halfway through the first period, Ashley Grimes bringing down a high ball quickly to get a snap-shot in from inside the area that Forster did well to beat away at close range.

Isaksson denied Godsmark again on the half-hour, but from his punch clear City quickly broke downfield and went into the lead. The ball was swung in from the right flank to Ched Evans, who finding himself in lots of space steadied himself before drilling the ball under Forster.

But the lead did not last long; three minutes later, Newcastle were awarded a free kick a yard outside the area, and Emre stepped up to curl the ball over the wall and into the top left hand corner of Isaksson's net.

City's goalscorer had the chance to retake the lead five minutes before the break, brilliantly pulling down a cross on the edge of the six-yard box but slamming his shot into the side netting.

Both sides looked hungry after the break, and after some lively exchanges City retook the lead on 57 minutes. Karl Moore pulled the ball back from the by-line and after a quick scramble in the box, Ashley Grimes popped up to stab the ball home.

The Blues were still in the hunt for another, with Daly having a low shot pushed away by Forster and Evans seeing a shot from a tight angle cleared off the line by Faye in quick succession.

Newcastle levelled again after 67 minutes, Enrique crossing to substitute Mark Doninger, on for Barton, who tucked the ball home into the bottom corner of the net.

Grimes spurned a great chance with 10 minutes left, under-hitting it from eight yards out with Forster able to save with his legs.

Shaleum Logan kept it at 2-2 with four minutes left, clearing a Morris header off the line from a corner.

Newcastle piled on the pressure late on, but Mark Laird could have grabbed the winner deep into stoppage time, however the midfielder pulled his volley from a cross right across the face of goal.