PREMIER LEAGUE
RAHEEM STERLING made it 18 wins on the bounce for Manchester City – despite Newcastle almost redefining the term “defensive football”.
Fifty years ago, City clinched the title at St James’ Park, on the final day of the season with a 4-3 win over Newcastle.
No silverware this time but another City performance which ensures the second half of this campaign will be a procession rather than a race.
The records are falling, the gap is growing and the tactics adopted by rival managers to counter City become more extreme with every game.
Newcastle defended valiantly but it was not enough to keep out City, with Sterling maintaining his magnificent form with his 17th goal of the season in the 31st minute. This was strictly a damage-limitation exercise for Newcastle.
With three centre-halves, Rafa Benitez’ game plan was all about containment, massing bodies behind the ball in a bid to stem the sky blue wave.
It led to a strangely subdued atmosphere. City’s majesty means it is not just their opponents who are beaten before a ball is kicked, but their fans too.
With 11 minutes gone, Vincent Kompany’s game was over. But City boss Pep Guardiola chose to replace the injury-plagued defender with an attacker, Gabriel Jesus.
Play was compressed in the final third of the pitch. For much of the contest, there was not anyone within