Manchester City vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva goals

As much as it might seem remiss to criticise a team for not racking up relentless wins this year after only last season fighting relegation for most of the campaign, the nature of competitive sport is that objectives are inherently fluid.

Overperform against early expectations and, naturally, thoughts turn to what kind of glory might be achievable. Underperform by a distance and in English football specifically, merely avoiding relegation can quickly become all-important.

Across Newcastle United’s first 16 Premier League matches this term, they lost just once, kept enough clean sheets to have the top flight’s best defence and built a reputation of being tough and irritating to play against.

Eddie Howe’s side launched themselves a top-four bid on the back of some consistent performances, Miguel Almiron having the best campaign of his career - this side of the Atlantic, at least - and others such as Liverpool and Chelsea failing to hit the heights expected of them.

If it was the derby between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the clash of the super-rich was decided with the aid of a Mancunian who cost nothing. Phil Foden’s return to form was rubber-stamped by a goal that was both deflected and glorious. Bernardo Silva illustrated that, for now anyway, Manchester City possess more resources than Newcastle United by coming off the bench to score inside two minutes. The owners are neighbours in the Middle East but it is increasingly probable their clubs will not be meeting in Europe next season.

The reigning champions rendered it less likely Newcastle will be in the Champions League. After a four-month stay in the top four, their season has stalled. After only two defeats all campaign, they have three in as many matches in all competitions. And if the fixture list always rendered that possible, their goal shortage has become acute.

For City, meanwhile, it was at least a demonstration that they look less reliant on Erling Haaland to find a finish. The Norwegian has only scored in two of his last eight outings but, as he got an assist, two of City’s band of midfielders and wingers chipped in instead to keep their title challenge going. They have only dropped points twice at the Etihad this season and, with Newcastle on their longest unbeaten away run in the top flight for 53 years, something had to give. The outcome nevertheless felt predictable.

“I am very happy because it was a tough game. It was a tough moment in the game for us.

“They take more risks and they went for it so to score that [second] goal was very good. You know when you play Newcastle how good they are this season. They went for it because they need points. We knew they would press more and create more chances so the second goal was important for us.

“Phil Foden is so good, he is one of those players who can score goals and win games for you. I am happy for him, he went through a difficult period with his injury so I am very happy to have him with us because he showed he can solve some of our problems.

“There is a good team spirit at the moment. We have had tough moments this season but we want to compete and do our best. It won’t be easy but we will fight for all of the titles we are still in.

“We’ll see, we can only focus on ourselves now, we cannot focus on Arsenal. We need to do our job because if we don’t it will not matter what Arsenal does or not.”

That clean sheet for Ederson is the 100th shut out for the Brazilian in the Premier League.

Bernardo Silva’s strike was Manchester City’s 1,000th Premier League home goal, the sixth side to reach the milestone in the competition (160 at Maine Road, 840 at the Etihad).

90+4 mins: A last minute free kick sees Newcastle have the opportunity to score a consolation goal but Kieran Trippier’s shot lands safely in the hands of Ederson.

That’s the last kick of the game and City take the points. They stay second but move to within two points of Arsenal who take on Bournemouth at 3pm.

That defeat is only Newcastle’s third this season but it’s a big dint in their hopes of finishing in the top four this year.

90 mins: Four minutes of added time to play. Man City just want to hold onto their lead. They win four consecutive corners that Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland keep in the corner.

Haaland in particular loves it, he’s encouraging the supporters and winding up the Newcastle defenders.

88 mins: Matt Targett has replaced Dan Burn for Newcastle. That’s a smart move from Eddie Howe as Burn was sitting on a yellow card after a few heated exchanges.

85 mins: Newcastle’s biggest problem is that they can’t score. They’ve only bagged three league goals since the turn of the year.

City shift the ball quickly along the edge of the box before picking out Foden on the right side. He shoots but Nick Pope drops low to keep it out.

Nice save from the Newcastle man.