52mins Ishmael Miller header 0-1

Half time:  City 1 Newcastle 0

Full time: City 1 Newcastle 0

Tommy Craig said:

"We had four full-backs across the middle of the park.

"That is the impact of injuries at first-team level and we had two wingers - Alan O'Brien and Martin Brittain - up front. That told you the story of our performance.

"We had enough possession but we were very, very powderpuff up front and did not ever look like scoring.

"We competed well and gave everything we had but, apart from Steve Harper and Robbie Elliott, we were a young team against a strong Manchester City team.

"Only in the later stages did we put City under pressure and we had a few half-chances."

City Coach Steve Wigley commented:

"It was a convincing 1-0. We should have put the game to bed earlier there were a few chances we didn’t take and we could have put the ball into the box sooner.

"We witnessed a game on Sunday where the first team have totally dominated and were on the wrong end of a freak result. So a couple of minutes from the end here you think, ‘don’t let it happen here as well’, they didn’t deserve anything out of the game because we were the better team.

"I’m pleased we’ve won – I would have just liked a couple more goals.

A first half goal from Manchester City striker Ishmael Miller was enough to beat Newcastle reserves on Monday evening, as the home side maintained their unbeaten start to the season.

Having scored twice last season in the corresponding game, Miller was on hand at the far post after 25 minutes to head home Lee Croft's centre for the only goal of the night.

Playing at the Sport City Stadium adjacent to City's main pitch, United struggled to mount attacks as City 'keeper Kasper Schmeichel enjoyed a quiet night.

At the other end Steve Harper was slightly more occupied, but City were restricted to shots from distance and swinging over hopeful crosses that the United 'keeper was equal to.

With only limited attacking options open to him, coach Tommy Craig employed Alan O'Brien up front in the first half, with midfielder Martin Brittain in an advanced role.

However after that only produced one half-chance for O'Brien, the second half saw a reshuffle as Liam Atkin was pushed up as a makeshift striker.

O'Brien reverted to his usual left wing role but popped up in the 89th minute in front of goal, only to put his shot over the bar from close range and end any hopes of snatching a point.

That's two consecutive 0-1 reverses on the road and no wins in the last three for the Magpies second string, who are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

After a bright start with two wins, the injury problems that have affected the first team are now starting to have an effect on the reserves - not least of which was the drafting of Lee Clark into a starting role at Blackburn.

The side play only their second home game of the season next Monday, having beaten Leeds 3-2 back in August.

However they'll need to be at their best against opponents Manchester United, having lost the last three contests on Tyneside between the teams at this level.   
 
Biffa

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