Newcastle United vs Manchester City. Premier League.
St James' Park, NewcastleAttendance46,424.
Wednesday 20 April 2016 12:53, UK
Newcastle United missed the chance to ease their relegation fears as Manchester City held them to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
From an offside position, Sergio Aguero scored his 100th Premier League goal as Manuel Pellegrini's men took a 14th-minute lead at St James' Park but Vurnon Anita levelled the contest on 31 minutes with a well-taken goal.
Newcastle, buoyed by Saturday's victory over Swansea, pushed for a winner but they couldn't convert their positive performance into goals as City, boosted by the returning Vincent Kompany, stood firm on Tyneside.
Given Newcastle's recent plight, the point will be welcomed by Rafa Benitez's side, who were fortunate Chancel Mbemba's challenge on Sergio Aguero in the area went unpunished in the second half.
For Newcastle, the draw sees them miss the chance to move out of the relegation zone for the first time under Rafa Benitez, they remain 19th, two points from safety.
City, meanwhile, remain in third position, five points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United, who have played a game less.
Newcastle almost made the perfect start but Papiss Cisse's fourth-minute header from Andros Townsend's cross nestled on the roof of the City net.
The early optimism created by the hosts' promising start soon evaporated in controversial circumstances as Aguero, from a clear offside position, headed Aleksandar Kolarov's free-kick beyond Karl Darlow on 14 minutes.
The goal sealed a century of top-flight goals in England for the Argentine, who achieved the feat in 147 appearances, second only to Alan Shearer on 124 games.
City could have made it two on 23 minutes, but Kevin De Bruyne failed to punish Jamaal Lascelles' error and lashed a wild effort wide.
Many sides in Newcastle position would have crumbled at that point, but the hosts rallied and should have been level just before the half hour.
Moussa Sissoko intercepted Kolarov's mis-placed pass before running the length of the field to the City area, but he couldn't find the finish as Joe Hart was forced into a routine save.
But Newcastle got their reward shortly after as Anita gathered the ball on the right, cut inside Kolarov and crashed a low, left-footed effort off the post and beyond Hart.
City started the second half strongly and were denied a penalty five minutes after the interval when Mbemba's clumsy challenge on Aguero was ignored by referee Kevin Friend.
Jesus Navas and Aguero were both denied by Darlow in the space of 15 minutes as both teams struggled to create clear chances.
Georginio Wijnaldum was brought on as Newcastle pushed for a late winner, and the Dutchman came so close to producing just that as Hart expertly kept his effort out two minutes from time as both teams settled for a point.
Player ratings
Newcastle: Darlow (6), Anita (8), Mbemba (7), Lascelles (6), Dummett (6), Tiote (6), Colback (6), Townsend (7), Sissoko (8), Perez (7), Cisse (6).
Used subs: Wijnaldum (5), Aarons (5), Mitrovic (5).
Man City: Hart (7), Zabaleta (6), Kompany (6), Mangala (6), Kolarov (7), Fernando (6), Delph (5), Jesus Navas (6), Toure (6), De Bruyne (7), Aguero (7).
Used subs: Sterling (5), Bony (4), Fernandinho (4).
Man of the Match: Vurnon Anita.
