English Premiership Man City 3 Newcastle Utd 0: Joey's Barton's night began with him a man unwanted and detested in his Manchester City home.
It ended with Barton looking like Mr Popular compared to how Geordies regard the Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness. Barton's name brought a heated reaction throughout, following the events of the week, but when he departed 12 minutes from the end with City three up and Barton having played a key role, those jeers had turned to cheers.
Albert Riera and Andy Cole had made it 2-0 by half-time and Darius Vassell added an all too easy third. That took the attention off Barton a little and threw it back on to Souness. Newcastle now have lost five of their last six and surely only Souness's desire for a whopping pay-off is keeping him at St James' Park.
One point in January is two fewer than Sunderland have collected, and Newcastle, with Portsmouth at home on Saturday, are now in a relegation battle. City remain in contention for Europe.
Once the game started, Barton's every touch was booed by the visiting fans, but when he chased a sixth-minute long ball into a corner it was clear that City's faithful were also going to continue to vent their anger. One imagines Barton has robust self-preservation instincts and they were on view when he was put on the end of a lost cause rescued by Trevor Sinclair.
Barton was soon back near the Newcastle byline at the south end of the stadium and some City supporters were again on their feet expressing their hostility at seeing him in a blue shirt. But Barton carried on and, unchallenged, swept in a cross. It passed over those in the middle but Riera, waiting on the edge of the area met it with precision.
Riera's volley gave Shay Given no chance.
City scored their second when Cole rose above an effort at a block by Celestine Babayaro that can only be described as theoretical. Kiki Musampa's swift feet had set up Darius Vassell and his cross was met by Cole's forehead - his 10th goal of the season.
Souness sent on Nolberto Solano and Albert Luque after the break but it was City who were still more dangerous. On 62 minutes, Vassell ran onto Cole's pass and was allowed by the non-tackling Boumsong to place the ball past Given.
Guardian Service
MANCHESTER CITY: James, Jihai, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Sinclair, Barton (Richards 78), Musampa, Riera, Cole (Samaras 65), Vassell (Sibierski 69). Subs not used: Ireland, Wright-Phillips. Booked: Barton. Goals: Riera 14, Cole 38, Vassell 62.
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Ramage, Boumsong, Bramble, Babayaro, Clark, Parker, Emre (O'Brien 81), N'Zogbia (Solano 45), Shearer, Chopra (Luque 45). Subs not used: Harper, Elliott. Booked: Bramble.
Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).
