Manchester City 0-2 Newcastle United: Capital One Cup holders ruefully eliminated
Promise: Newcastle starlet Rolando Aarons celebrates scoring Newcastle’s first
Manchester City 0 Newcastle United 2
Perhaps Newcastle United should have been beaten even before referee Stuart Atwell signalled for kick-off at the start of the evening. They had, after all, never managed to overcome Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and in their last 17 matches against Manuel Pellegrini’s side in all competitions, a record which dates back to 2005.
City were also on a roll in the Capital One Cup, last losing in this competition in September 2012, under the stewardship of Roberto Mancini, and had averaged more than four goals a game in their last seven matches.
This should have been routine, should have been deprived of adversity with Newcastle resting a plethora of their star players. This should have been the ideal antidote to City’s malaise at Upton Park against West Ham last weekend, the ideal antidote to City’s troubles of late.
This should have been the ideal preparation for Sunday’s Manchester derby against Manchester United, a dress rehearsal where City’s stars, the likes of Edin Dzeko, Yaya Toure and David Silva, would restore their scathed confidence after the recent defeat to West Ham. This should have been City showing why they are the holders of the Capital One Cup, why they will challenge for each and every viable silverware.
This was, however, Newcastle showing they are prepared to fight for their embattled manager Alan Pardew, that they are prepared to play without fear. Pardew gave youth a chance here, starting academy prospects Adam Armstrong and Rolando Aarons, and his faith was duly vindicated.
City struggled to contain the effervescent Aarons, dubbed the “new Raheem Sterling” with hopes that he will develop to become an England international. A bundle of skills, tricks and tireless, direct running, it was easy to see why he is so highly rated. The 18 year-old scored Newcastle’s first, a goal of poise and expertise, and Moussa Sissoko, a substitute from the bench, sealed this stunning victory.
City were anaemic, devoid of the intent and attacking verve which has so often graced the Etihad. Fernandinho was too often robbed in possession. Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis formed a porous central defensive partnership. Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko were virtually anonymous. And to top it all off, Bacary Sagna should have been expelled for a malicious stamp on the spine of Sammy Ameobi late on.
Samir Nasri was not able to start for City, recovering from a troublesome groin injury which has blighted his season and seen him rue the last seven matches, as he only occupied the bench. Pellegrini's selection, however, shimmered with intent. Jovetic and Dzeko spearheaded City's attack, supported by Toure and Fernandinho, the midfield duo winged by Milner and Silva.
It appears, though, that the Capital One Cup has dropped considerably in Pardew's priority. It was his side's resilience which earned them this fourth round voyage to the Etihad, battling gallantly, although reduced to ten men after Abeid's expulsion, to a 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park after extra time but the eleven deployed by Pardew was stripped of his intent.
Tim Krul, Moussa Sissoko, Sammy Ameobi, Remy Cabella, Yoan Gouffran, Emmanuel Riviere and Ayoze Perez were mere reinforcements here, although Armstrong and Aarons, the 17 and 18 year-old graduates from Newcastle's academy, offered much promise.
Armstrong spearheaded Newcastle's attacking front three, winged by Obertan and Aarons and pressing Demichelis eagerly. Ryan Taylor was starting his first match since August 2012 and was rash on Silva, impeding the Spaniard on the edge of Newcastle's penalty box. Toure curled the resulting free-kick marginally over the crossbar.
There is hope around St James' Park that Aarons will be the centerpiece of their next generation, an academy product of immense talent. He showed why here, displaying poise and accuracy to score after only six minutes.
Taylor harried the disinclined Fernandinho, robbing the Brazilian. Aarons was already on the move, gathering Taylor's searching pass as Mangala approached. His finish was accomplished and composed, sweeping the ball through the out-stretched legs of Caballero.
Silva, still suffering from the after-effects of Taylor's challenge, departed for Nasri, the Frenchman forced into action earlier than preferred. Aarons continued to threaten City, running at Sagna and winning a free-kick from the Frenchman.
Newcastle looked more defensively polished, Coloccini's slide tackle legally dispossessing Milner before the Argentine thwarted another City move. Pardew exuded calm on the touchline, occasionally producing a mixture of hand gestures. Newcastle preserved a compact shape, pressing eagerly with Armstrong and Aarons leading the offensive.
Aarons was back tracking Milner and earning his side a free-kick deep into his own half. The feeling that City were building continued to grow. Jovetic drilled marginally wide. Coloccini almost deflected Kolarov's cross into his goal. Jovetic fired a half-volley over.
Before the 46,708 at the Etihad, an engaging box-to-box encounter was unfolding. Coloccini blocked from an advancing Nasri before Newcastle broke dangerously, Dummett almost replicating his goal-scoring heroics in the third round by converting Colback's corner kick. The defender, tugged by Mangala before regaining his structure, cushioned the ball towards Caballero.
Elliot dived acrobatically to thwart Toure, who had recuperated from a subsided injury. Newcastle's reserve keeper was again forced into action, tipping Dummett's attempted clearance above the crossbar.
Yet Pardew's side continued to breach City's porous resistance, Armstrong almost sweeping Janmaat's enticing cross towards goal. Newcastle continued where they left off after the break, Obertan's powerful strike deemed irrelevant with Newcastle guilty of an earlier foul.
With Silva replaced having sustained an injury, Toure limping and a vital Manchester derby on Sunday looming, Pellegrini's injury list seemed destined to expand. Engrossing in an aerial bout with Obertan, Kolarov landed awkwardly, injuring his arm, though sufficiently fit to continue with his arm bandaged. Concerned, Pellegrini adopted an attacking approach, sending on Jesus Navas as Toure departed.
Pardew was enraged by Atwell’s failure to award his side a penalty. Ameobi played the ball across Kolarov and towards Obertan who collapsed under the Serb’s presence, replays purporting to show the full-back’s feet tangling with Obertan.
The succession of substitutions continued, Sergio Aguero prepared by Pellegrini to enrich City’s attack.
Newcastle continued to press, continued to harry City. Colback was too eager, fouling Aguero before Jovetic fired the subsequent free-kick into Elliot’s grateful arms. They broke forward. Sissoko gathered Ameobi’s pass, swerved seamlessly beyond Fernandinho, sped effortlessly past Mangala and finished expertly. The away support replicated City’s famed celebration of choice, the Poznan.