Manchester City secured a 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday, closing the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League to just two points.
Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva were the heroes for the defending champions, who were let off the hook by a string of missed opportunities from the visitors at the Etihad.
Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson and Joelinton all failed to force Ederson into making any saves, as the Magpies continue to struggle with their lack of potency up front.
City, on the other hand, relied on two moments of inspiration to claim the vital three points from what was an otherwise disjointed performance.
Foden, who struggled with form and fitness after the World Cup, has been back to his best over the past week, scoring his fourth goal in three games.
The 22-year-old England international ghosted past four Newcastle challenges to score with the aid of a deflection off Sven Botman in the 15th minute.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s first full season under Saudi ownership which promised so much is beginning to fade away.
Eddie Howe’s men missed out on the club’s first major trophy in 54 years, losing to Manchester United in the League Cup final last weekend.
They have also fallen four points behind Tottenham in the race for a place in next season’s Champions League, with just one win in eight league games since December 26.
Newcastle came close to equalizing when one of the substitutes, Joe Willock, broke down the right and his low cross was begging for a finishing touch by Joelinton.
However, he missed his kick, and moments later, another substitute, Alexander Isak, had a penalty appeal turned down after he was wiped out by Ederson. Ruben Dias blocked the Swede’s first effort.
City manager Pep Guardiola introduced Silva for Kevin De Bruyne in a bid to stem Newcastle’s flow through the City midfield.
The Portuguese midfielder had an immediate impact, firing low past Nick Pope to settle City’s nerves.
The second goal took the wind out of Newcastle’s sails, and City were able to see out the final quarter comfortably, with Pope saving low to his right from Foden, denying City the chance to add to their lead.
