Barton booed but City smash the Toon

Manchester City 3 Newcastle 0

Barton’s shock transfer request and attack on City staff with agendas against him brought predictable “greedy” taunts from his own fans and there were still plenty of boos when he left the field 13 minutes from time.

But after an eventful evening which saw him arrive by a service entrance, set up Albert Riera’s opener, earn a yellow card and also accidentally barge into referee Chris Foy, there were even louder cheers as he departed, which is more than can be said for Souness.

Pitiful from start to finish, the visitors were comprehensively beaten as Andy Cole and Darius Vassell followed up Riera’s opener.

Newcastle have now slipped to sixth from bottom, raising more questions over Souness’ future.

It is only nine days ago that he was summoned to meet a meeting with chairman Freddie Shepherd, with many expecting the Scot to get the sack. After a quick cup of tea, Souness survived, since when the Magpies have beat Cheltenham in the FA Cup, then were handed a winnable fifth-round encounter with Southampton.

But any suggestion the Tynesiders’ present troubles are over would be a total misjudgement and City took maximum advantage in a one-sided first half.

After a tepid opening, during which the only notable moments came through the noise that rolled round the ground every time Barton touched the ball, City took the lead with Riera’s first goal for the club. It was typical Barton should be involved, overlapping Trevor Sinclair down the right flank before cutting back a cross Cole missed but Riera did not.

Chances came and went for City after that, with a good Shay Given stop denying Darius Vassell, who was also prevented from being set up with a tap-in by Cole by when Titus Bramble stretched a leg out. But Bramble and defensive partner Boumsong were having one of their regular bad nights.

The Magpies’ rearguard seemed incapable of winning any individual battles and when Celestine Babayaro failed to even jump for Vassell’s chipped cross seven minutes before the break, Cole instantly nodded home his 10th goal of the season.

Despite the half-time introductions of Nolberto Solano and Albert Luque, Newcastle remained on the back foot after the re-start too.

In his ill-advised morning-of-the-match address on TV, Barton hinted he felt he was the best player on the Blues staff, a stunning statement given his lack of medals or international honours. Andy Cole is surely far more deserving of the tag.

When a visiting attack broke down close to the City box and Riera ferried the ball into his path, Cole instantly spotted Vassell’s run, lifted a pass over Boumsong which allowed Vassell to slip a neat shot under Shay Given.

It marked the end of Newcastle resistance and allowed Blues boss Stuart Pearce to take off Cole and Barton, whose sponsors’ man-of-the-match award recognised was sympathetic to say the least but recognition for the industry which makes him an important, if not indispensable, member of the current City squad.

MAN CITY: James, Jihai, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Sinclair, Barton (Richards 78), Musampa, Riera, Cole (Samaras 65), Vassell (Sibierski 69).

NEWCASTLE: Given, Ramage, Boumsong, Bramble, Babayaro, Clark, Parker, Emre (O’Brien 81), N’Zogbia (Solano 45), Shearer, Chopra (Luque 45).