N'Zogbia And Taylor Taken To The Cleaners!
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Samaras.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Beye, Rozehnal, Taylor (Faye 84), N'Zogbia, Smith, Geremi (Jose Enrique 76), Butt, Martins, Viduka (Emre 88), Milner.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Pattison.
Att: 40,606
Elano led Newcastle's back-line a merry dance at Eastlands as Manchester City roared back to record a fourth successive Premier League home win.
The Brazilian midfielder had already established himself as a clear man-of-the-match with an inspired display of cultured passing in a pulsating contest when he strode up to rocket home the 86th-minute free-kick which guaranteed Sven-Goran Eriksson's men their victory.
Eriksson did his homework, whichout a shadow of doubt. And he pin-pointed the weeknesses in the Newcastle defence and exploited them to the full.
Taylor and Charlie N'Zogbia were given a grilling, and Allardyce seemed lost to come up with an answer.
The return of Shay Given was a surprise to many, but it was only a matter of time. Harper deserves his chance, granted, but Given is world class. You don't get them that often on Tyneside.
And when Harper appeared on 'Look North' on Friday talking about his "number one" roll at the club, you just KNEW he was tempting fate.
It was big call by Allardyce but the Republic of Ireland star justified the decision with a string of excellent saves, most notably to deny Elano and Ireland either side of the two first-half goals.
Micah Richards found himself on the wrong side of Martins as Geremi lifted a hopeful pass to the edge of the box and the half yard of space was all the Nigerian required to control, then finish in sublime fashion.
City equalised before half-time and seized the initiative within 90 seconds of the re-start.
N'Zogbia's unhappy day continued with an aimless header towards the touchline which Petrov was on to in a flash, outpacing Steven Taylor down the left flank before delivering a pin-point cross.
With N'Zogbia still out of position, Mpenza was totally unmarked as he stooped to finish.
Elano provided an amazing ending with a 25-yd free-kick that could be in the running for 'Goal of the Season'. It was heartbreaking to watch it flash past Given, but credit where it id due, it was masterclass!