City Brought Back Down To Earth

Damien Delaney watches goalscorer Michael Chopra

On 17 minutes Richard Hinds had to make a last ditch tackle to deny Newcastle forward Michael Chopra going one on one with Alan Fettis from a great Jermaine Jenas through ball, but Chopra got his chance just 3 minutes later and took it. Marc Joseph tried to chest the ball down to Fettis but didn't get enough on it, and Chopra stole in to round the City keeper and score the opener.

Joseph came close to making up for his mistake with a header from a corner, but Steve Harper made a fine save to deny him, while Danny Allsopp received Stuart Elliott's pass and finished but had his goal ruled out for offside.

Shola Ameobi then doubled the Magpies' lead 10 minutes before the break with a great strike after receiving a backheel from Chopra.

This lead to confrontation between Joseph and Ameobi minutes later after the City defender thought he had been unfairly challenged in the buildup to the goal. Another incident a minute later involving the pair saw the referee book Joseph.

Match action

This was Joseph's last real action of the game, as he and eight others were substituted at half time.

6 minutes into the second half, Newcastle should have added to their lead. Paul Musselwhite - who replaced Fettis at the break - kept out Chopra's shot, then Ameobi hit the post with the rebound.

But the third goal was soon in coming. City's defence was caught sleeping, and LuaLua crossed for Chopra to fire home from close range under no pressure.

Newcastle signed off with another goal in stoppage time to seal their victory, with substitute Carl Cort heading in an Aaron Hughes cross to make it 4-0.

City line-up (4-4-2): Fettis; Thelwell, Hinds, Joseph, Delaney; Price, Appleby, Keates, Elliott; Allsopp, Burgess.
Second half line-up (4-4-2): Musselwhite; Regan, Whittle, Holt, Burton; Fry, Appleby (Peat 62), Keates, Melton; Donaldson, Webb.
Un-used sub: Smith.