City one ahead at break

Man City 1, Newcastle United 0 (half-time)

Darren Huckerby gave City some reward for a mountain of first-half pressure by nodding them into an interval lead against Newcastle.

Huckerby headed home after Jermaine Jenas had failed to clear the rebound from a Shay Given save.

Kieron Dyer should have brought the Geordies level almost immediately but placed his shot wide after Peter Schmeichel parried Lomana Lualua’s effort.

Former Magpie Steve Howey hoofed Solano’s cross away from trouble before Benarbia sent Huckerby clear again with a superb return pass, only for the City frontman to miss his shot, allowing Given to slide in and collect.

Anelka curled a shot wide after Huckerby had laid off Benarbia’s pass on the edge of the area.

Schmeichel made his first serious save from Speed’s deflected shot after 27 minutes but City quickly resumed their attacking offensive.

Dabizas headed Sun’s cross clear but within seconds Foe should have put the home side in front from Jensen’s cross but unbelievably headed over barely four yards from the visitors’ goal when completely unmarked.

Solano nipped in to whip the ball away from Anelka after Given had failed to collect on the edge of his box.

City’s pressure deserved a goal, and it came after 37 minutes following a mistake from Jermaine Jenas.

Jensen latched onto Anelka’s far-post cross and produced a thunderous half-volley which Given saved brilliantly to his left.

Jenas though only succeeded in looping the rebound back into the danger zone and straight to Huckerby whose header bobbled home.

Newcastle should have responded immediately but Kieron Dyer somehow placed his shot wide after Schmeichel’s full length save to deny Lomana Lualua had fallen straight into his path.

Huckerby went close at the other end, as did Dyer on the counter, again Schmeichel making the stop.

Wright-Phillips danced past Bernard and Dabizas on the right and his cross rolled invitingly to Huckerby but, under pressure from Jenas, again the shot was misdirected.

Huckerby still hadn’t finished, shrugging off Bernard to force his way into the Newcastle area, but this time Given saved with his legs.

The two teams opened a weekend of respect for Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman with a minute’s silence prior to the match.