Premier League: Manchester City 3 Newcastle 1

Manchester City moved eight points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium.

Two late first-half goals from Mario Balotelli and Micah Richards sent the hosts in at the break with a comfortable advantage before a Sergio Aguero penalty secured City’s 11th win in 12 league fixtures.

Dan Gosling’s late finish was to provide little more than scant consolation for Newcastle.

There were fears at the beginning of the game that Newcastle would look to simply sit and absorb the City attack but their early endeavour was indicative of a side brimming with confidence, as Sammy Ameobi caused Clichy some concern down the right flank.

That said, the hosts looked equally threatening on the opposite wing, with Richards ploughing forward early on and delivering a dangerous low cross into the Magpies’ box, which was eventually cleared after some uncharacteristically nervy defending from Alan Pardew’s men.

City were proving dominant in possession and their neat build-up play was nearly rewarded on the 20th minute as Aguero met Yaya Toure’s ball on the edge of the box before turning Ryan Taylor with ease and lashing his effort over the bar.

Newcastle then had Tim Krul to thank for keeping the scores at nil as James Milner floated an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Balotelli, who was left aghast as the Dutchman tipped his powerful effort over the bar.

But City did get in front minutes later when Taylor handled in the area to block Toure’s volley. Balotelli dispatched the resulting penalty with unerring cool as the hosts finally broke Newcastle down.

If Taylor’s handball had a touch of misfortune to it, then his dawdling on the ball that led to City’s second only two minutes later was an act of utter mindlessness. Richards showed the sharpness of mind to nick the ball from the Magpies left back and hammered home from point-blank range to double the home side’s lead.

Newcastle looked in no way ready to settle for damage limitation after the break, with Hatem Ben Arfa denied by the post after stealing the ball from Vincent Kompany and dancing his way through the league leaders’ defence.

However, City responded with typical ferocity and the tie was wrapped up with just over a quarter of an hour remaining as Richards latched on to substitute David Silva’s divine ball before being brought down in the box by Ben Arfa.

With Balotelli substituted, Aguero stepped up to make it three.

Newcastle substitute Gosling provided his side a consolation strike as injury time approached after pouncing on a loose ball.