Man City 3-1 Newcastle

Brazilian Elano delivered a virtuoso display as Manchester City earned a richly deserved win against Newcastle.

Obefami Martins put Newcastle ahead with a clever lob after 28 minutes, but Martin Petrov scored at the far post to put City level before the interval.

Emile Mpenza headed home Petrov's perfect cross to give City the lead two minutes after the interval.

And Elano, who was City's orchestrator, hammered home a 25-yard free-kick three minutes from time to seal victory.

Both managers made a change of goalkeeper, with Shay Given getting his first Premiership start under Sam Allardyce instead if Steve Harper, while Joe Hart took over from Kasper Schmeichel for Sven-Goran Eriksson's City.

And both were involved in a hugely entertaining first 45 minutes, with City in particular producing some glorious football.

Elano unveiled some magical touches, forcing a fine save from Given after 11 minutes, but it was Newcastle who took the lead against the run of play 17 minutes later.

Martins pulled down Geremi's long ball instantly and then lobbed the advancing Hart to score.

Hart then gave City a scare when he miscontrolled a back-pass and was forced the hack the ball to safety from the goal-line.

City were unfortunate to be behind, but drew level eight minutes before the interval with a superbly-constructed goal from Petrov.

Elano, inevitably, released Stephen Ireland and he crossed perfectly for Petrov to score at the far post.

Given was then forced to make a vital block from Ireland after Newcastle's defence was unlocked by another killer pass from Elano.

City picked up the attacking theme after the break and were ahead almost instantly after the re-start.

Petrov's pace left Steven Taylor trailing hopeless in his wake, and once again the delivery was perfect for Mpenza to head home.

City suffered a setback after 57 minutes when Vedran Corluka limped off with a groin injury, to be replaced by Nedum Onuoha.

Newcastle were struggling to get a foothold in the game, but Martins gave them some hope by firing narrowly wide.

City were still dangerous on the break, however, and Micah Richards should have done better than shoot straight at Given with 11 minutes left, with Ireland waiting completely unmarked.

Mpenza then shot wide as City pressed in a bid to score the third goal that would have made the points secure.

It was fitting that the brilliant Elano sealed City's victory with a stunning strike in the 87th minute.

Elano stepped up and simply rifled a 25-yard free-kick past Given into the top corner to clinch a fine win.

He was then replaced by Eriksson to ensure he took his own salute from City's fans, and was deservedly given a standing ovation for a master-class.


Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson:
"This team is very good and when they play more games together they will get even better. It's good and I like to see them play football.

"It was a very good performance so I'm very happy and we could have scored more goals. But I am delighted - good football.

"The third goal from Elano was fantastic. You have to have class feet to score a goal like that from such long range."


Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce:
"Elano's goal was wonderful, but the first two goals we conceded were suicidal.

"The second right after half-time was a real mess up and you get desperate as time goes on and you throw people forward.

"There was a lack of understanding, but we will just keep working on that. We need to make everyone more and more aware of the demands the Premier League makes."

Man City: Hart, Corluka (Onuoha 57), Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ireland, Johnson (Ball 86), Hamann, Petrov, Mpenza, Elano (Geovanni 89).
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Samaras

Goals: Petrov 38, Mpenza 47, Elano 87.

Newcastle: Given, Beye, Rozehnal, Taylor (Faye 84), N'Zogbia, Smith, Geremi (Jose Enrique 76), Butt, Martins, Viduka (Emre 88), Milner.
Subs Not Used: Harper, Pattison.

Goals: Martins 29.

Att: 40,606

Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).