[ad_1]
Manchester City managed a 2-0 home win over Newcastle United thanks to half-time goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres, a result that took them to fifth place in the Premier League on Saturday.
On a cold and rainy night at Etihad Stadium, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce started with a five-man baseline, but his team couldn’t do much to keep control of City’s array of attacking talents.
The hosts took the lead in the 14th minute when Gundogan calmly fired home a Raheem Sterling pass from close range after a typically patient and incisive build up by Pep Guardiola.
– Stream ESPN FC daily on ESPN + (US only)
With City dominating possession throughout, it took Newcastle until the sixth minute of the second half to register a shot on goal, but all they did was provoke the hosts further, and four minutes later they went 2-0 above.
A concerted attack that ebbed and flowed across the field ended when Newcastle defender Federico Fernández could only deflect a cross from Joao Cancelo in the way of Ferran Torres, who scored with a simple shot.
Torres, who turned down a couple of decent chances that night, was replaced by Sergio Agüero in the 77th minute. He forced a superb save from Newcastle goalkeeper Karl Darlow minutes after coming in, but there were no more goals as City advanced towards the victory.
While City’s impressive performance led them to 26 points after 14 games, Guardiola remained cautious about the team’s title prospects in what is turning out to be a reversed season, with teams also having to deal with the problems caused. For the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are very far from the top. Last week we were tenth in the table, the whole season is up and down. There are rare results for everyone, this season you have to be calm in good times and in bad times”, Guardiola, whose side traveled to Everton in second place on Monday, he told reporters.
“That is the tempo we have to play. Today our positional game was perfect, unfortunately we couldn’t score more goals but it’s a good result and three more points.
“In 45 hours we have another game at Goodison Park … tomorrow the players have to regenerate and prepare in one day. This pandemic puts us in an extreme situation, but that is how England likes it, so we accept it.”
Newcastle, which is 12th with 18 points, will host league leaders Liverpool on Wednesday.
