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Man City trounce New Castle 3-0, China's Sun shines
Updated: 2006-02-02 10:35
'Keep your mouth shut'
The visiting boss has spent most of the season defending himself from intense
flak as Newcastle's campaign lurches from one disaster to another.
It is only nine days ago that Souness was summoned to a meeting with chairman
Freddie Shepherd which many thought would result in him getting the sack.
After a quick cup of tea, Souness survived, since when the Magpies have
beaten Cheltenham in a tricky FA Cup tie, then been handed a very winnable
fifth-round encounter with Southampton.
But any suggestion the Tynesiders' present troubles are over would be a total
misjudgement and City took maximum advantage in a one-sided first half which
should have taken the game well beyond the visitors.
After a tepid opening, during which the only notable moments came through the
noise that rolled round the ground every time Barton touched the ball, City took
the lead with Riera's first goal for the club.
It was typical that Barton should be involved, overlapping Trevor Sinclair
down the right flank before cutting back a cross Cole missed but Riera did not.
Reviews of the Spaniard's time at City since his arrival on loan from
Espanyol have been mixed, but there was nothing wrong with the volley which
arrowed in the corner.
Chances came and went for the hosts after that, with a good Shay Given stop
denying Darius Vassell, who was also prevented from being set up with a tap-in
by Cole when Titus Bramble stretched a leg out.
But Bramble and much-derided defensive partner Boumsong were having one of
their regular bad nights, contributing to a constant sense of frailty about the
Newcastle defence.
The Magpies rearguard seemed incapable of winning any individual battles and
when Celestine Babayaro failure to even jump for Vassell's chipped cross seven
minutes before the break, Cole instantly nodded home his 10th goal of the
season.
Trevor Sinclair might have added to City's tally before the interval but
despite the half-time introductions of Nolberto Solano and Albert Luque,
Newcastle remained on the back foot after the re-start too.
In his ill-advised morning-of-the-match address on satellite TV, Barton had
hinted he felt he was the best player on the Blues staff.
It was a stunning statement given his lack of medals or international
honours. Cole is surely far more deserving of the tag despite his 34 years.
The former Newcastle hero has not just contributed goals to City's cause this
season but nous and invention, something his old club need desperately right
now.
When a visiting attack broke down close to the City box and Riera ferried the
ball into his path, Cole instantly spotted Vassell's run, lifted a pass over
Boumsong which allowed his strike partner to beat his opponent for pace and then
slip a neat shot under Shay Given.
It marked the end of any Newcastle resistance and also allowed Blues boss
Stuart Pearce to take off Cole, and Barton, whose sponsors man-of-the-match
award was sympathetic to say the least but recognition for the industry which
makes him an important, if not indispensable, member of the current City squad.
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