Man City vs Newcastle LIVE: FA Cup result and reaction after Bernardo Silva hits double
Pep Guardiola’s side cruised to victory thanks to Silva’s brace at the Etihad Stadium
Holders Manchester City cruised into the semi-finals of the FA Cup thanks to two deflected strikes from Bernardo Silva that gave them a 2-0 win over a lacklustre Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
City made five changes from the side that started last weekend's 1-1 Premier League draw with Liverpool and still managed to make the semi-finals of the competition for the sixth season in a row as Newcastle provided little resistance. City took the lead in the 13th minute when a Silva shot took a wicked deflection off Newcastle defender Dan Burn, wrong-footing keeper Martin Dubravka and sending the ball looping into the net.
The home side went 2-0 up in the 31st minute and again it was Portuguese playmaker Silva cutting in from the right and shooting, with Sven Botman's head helping to steer the ball past Dubravka this time. Alexander Isak almost pulled a goal back in the 36th minute but Stefan Ortega got down brilliantly to his left to keep the Swedish striker's bouncing shot out. It proved to be Newcastle's only effort on goal in the game.
Just after the hour mark, Eddie Howe lost patience with his stuttering side and made four substitutions and though the introduction of Miguel Almiron gave the visitors a much-needed injection of creativity in their attack, the home side quickly re-adjusted. Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku both had a number of chances to score but manager Pep Guardiola will not be too bothered by their profligacy in front of goal as his side outclassed the visitors from start to finish.
Follow all the reaction from Manchester City vs Newcastle in the FA Cup quarter-finals below, and get the latest match odds and FA Cup tips here.
Bernardo Silva settles FA Cup tie and makes compelling case as Man City’s most valuable player
In 2011, the FA Cup represented Manchester City’s first major trophy for 35 years. Now, for the second successive season, it may only be the third they lift in the space of a few weeks.
It is almost six months since Newcastle denied City the quadruple by knocking them out of the Carabao Cup, but the double treble remains very much on. The defending champions are off to Wembley again, becoming the first team to reach six successive FA Cup semi-finals.
In January at St James’ Park, Kevin de Bruyne was Newcastle’s nemesis.
With the Belgian consigned to the status of spectator by a groin injury, it was Bernardo Silva who instead determined this tie.
Bernardo Silva makes compelling case as Man City’s most valuable player
Man City 2-0 Newcastle: The holders advanced to the semi-finals with a comfortable win at the Etihad Stadium thanks to the Portuguese midfielder’s all-action performance
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-0 Newcastle
Pep Guardiola is last to give his thoughts on the result.
“ I know we play to win the finals, but to win it, you have to win the earlier rounds,” he says.
“We won four Carabao Cup finals in a row and now we’re in six FA Cup semi-finals in a row. To run and play the way they did is incredible, congratulations to the team.
“We played really well, we were so safe with the ball. Mateo, Rodri and Bernardo kept the ball so well.
“You see us when we come back every three days. We need Kevin [De Bruyne], Jack [Grealish] and Erling [Haaland] to come back in the best possible conditions,” he adds.
Does that last sentence suggest Haaland might be out for a little while?
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-0 Newcastle
Eddie Howe is the first out of the managers to speak to the media.
He says that Newcastle “tried our very best to force them into mistakes”, but it wasn’t possible today.
“They were very good. Conceding the two goals that we did didn’t help our cause.
“The difference is their technical quality and their players who can get out of tight situations – it’s at the highest level. We’re trying to get to their level.
“We’ve got 10 massive games left and are only a few points below seventh place, so we’re looking to end the season on a high.”
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-0 Newcastle
Jeremy Doku is first to speak to the BBC.
He says he is “happy with the performance of my team, the performance of myself. I feel like I’m getting better and better”.
“We scored important goals, we defended well, attacked well, [I’m] very happy.
Foden speaks to the BBC shortly after, and adds that he thought City “controlled the game really well”.
“We had a lot of the ball and tried to find the right moment to attack, and I think we did that really well.
“The hunger’s still there. We’ll keep going. It’s one of the best squads I’ve ever seen.
“At this stage of the season we’re going to need everyone.”
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-0 Newcastle
A reminder of when the draw for the semi-finals will take place.
The draw, which will contain Manchester City and Coventry as well as two of Chelsea/Leicester City and Manchester United/Liverpool, will take place after tomorrow afternoon’s game at Old Trafford.
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-0 Newcastle
For City, thoughts turn to a huge game against Arsenal on 31 March. They then face Aston Villa on 3 April, before away games against Crystal Palace and Real Madrid (in what is the first leg of their Champions league quarter-final).
It’s a difficult run of games, but one that’ll likely define their season. Can they repeat last year’s achievements?
The stats do go some way to telling the story of that game. The home side had 72 per cent of possession to Newcastle’s 28 per cent.
City had 16 shots to Newcastle’s two, and five on target to the Magpie’s one.
Both of Newcastle’s chances fell to the usually reliable Isak, but he just wasn’t on it today. City, on the other hand, were lucky in parts, especially with the two deflected goals, though nobody would deny they deserved that win.
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-0 Newcastle
City has complete control for much of that second half, and they go into the international break without a loss in 22 games.
They’re still in with a shout of winning all the major cup competitions, though with Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid all lying in wait for them.
For Newcastle, their cup hopes are dashed for another season. Their focus will now move to the Premier League, where they sit in 10th place. They’re only three points below West Ham in the European places.
FULL-TIME: Man City 2-0 Newcastle
FULL-TIME! The referee blows the whistle in what was an easy game for City in the end.
The double treble remains on, though there’ll be tougher tests than this.
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