City pile pressure on Allardyce
Allardyce suffered his third home defeat in the league this season
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Wednesday, 02, Jan 2008 10:51
Manchester City continued their assault on the Premier League's top four with an impressive 2-0 win over Newcastle United at St James' Park.
The Magpies showed some resolve in the first half but a poor second-half display saw fans leaving the ground early.
When the final whistle sounded those that remained let their feelings be known as boos echoed around the half-empty stadium.
The Magpies had the best of the early exchanges but failed to capitalise having got into some promising positions in the final third of the field.
Both Obafemi Martins and Charles N'Zogbia tried their luck from distance but their shots were comfortably dealt with by Joe Hart in the City goal.
City broke the deadlock against the run of play when Newcastle failed to clear Steven Ireland's long ball into the box.
Darius Vassell won the initial challenge and when Newcastle hesitated Elano was able to pounce, lashing a shot past Shay Given from the centre of the penalty area.
Michael Owen replaced Martins at half time and the substitute almost made an immediate impact as he raced past the City defence, but he could not find a way past Hart.
That glimmer was as good as it got for the home side as City increasingly troubled the Newcastle defence.
Brazilian defender Cacapa looked uncomfortable on a cold night on Tyneside and Elano and Vassell were a constant threat for Sven-Goran Erikson's side.
With 15 minutes remaining City made the game safe. Gelson Fernandes had just replaced Ireland and scored with virtually his first touch of the game.
Substitute Kelvin Etuhu held off the attentions of some Newcastle defenders and fed Gelson, who smashed the ball into the top corner of Given's goal.
Five minutes later Nicky Butt forced a good save from Hart but City controlled the final ten minutes and the game fizzled out.
Allardyce will hope to have better success against Stoke City in the FA Cup on Saturday as the pressure on him intensifies further.