Premier League: Newcastle v Manchester City match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at St James' Park

Yaya Toure scores against Newcastle on City's way to the title in 2012 (GETTY IMAGES)

On this weekend last season, Manchester City topped the Premier League by two points while Newcastle’s European aspirations appeared to be a little more than pipedreams as they sat sixth in the table.

Although City still occupy second place, their six point deficit to Manchester United will be difficult to recover from.

Nevertheless Saturday’s early kick off against Newcastle represents a huge opportunity for Roberto Mancini’s side; the hosts have won just one of their last 10 in all competitions.

In spite of the indifferent form shown by Alan Pardew’s side this term, all four of their Premier League wins have come at St James' Park.

KICK-OFF:Saturday, 12.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Newcastle 0 Man City 2 (Yaya Toure 2), Premier League, May 2012

Newcastle 3 (Balotelli, Richards, Aguero) Newcastle 1 (Gosling), Premier League, November 2011

Newcastle 1 (Carroll) Man City 3 (Barry, Tevez 2), Premier League, December 2010

STATS…

Demba Ba has fired 10 league goals this season – five times the amount of his strike partner Papiss Cisse.

Man City are unbeaten in their last five visits to St James' Park, winning four of those encounters.

Carlos Tevez may well be Man City’s leading marksmen this season but the Argentine has only bagged four in his last 18 matches.

Newcastle have won just one of their last seven matches.

ODDS…

Newcastle to win: 5.9

Man City to win: 1.7

Draw: 4.1

CLASSIC MATCH

Yaya Toure has scored 24 goals in his Manchester City career including the winner in the 2011 FA Cup final, but none were important than his double to give City one hand on the Premier League in May.

With Roberto Mancini’s side unable to wear down Newcastle, who still had Champions League aspirations, Nigel De Jong was introduced to give the Ivorian more advanced space to exploit.

And this tactical tweak paid dividends as Toure’s second half brace was enough to give City all three points.

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 12.45pm, highlights on MOTD on BBC1 at 10.25pm