Manchester City have put themselves in pole position to take out this season's Premier League title by beating Newcastle United 2-0 at Sports Direct Arena this afternoon.
Roberto Mancini's men put in an inspired display when it mattered to go three points clear of crosstown rivals Manchester United who take on Swansea City later today.
Yaya Toure was the man for City with two second-half goals to put the Eastlands club on the brink of a first title since 1968.
The Ivory Coast international opened the scoring with just under 20 minutes remaining when he produced a magical moment in the history of the club by playing a neat one-two with Sergio Aguero before curling brilliantly around Tim Krul to send the travelling fans into hysteria.
And that excitement was doubled in the final minute of regular time when City broke after a Newcastle corner with the play ending in Gael Clich finding Toure in pointblank range and the rangy midfielder did the rest, taking a touch and then firing home.
City had the far better of the chances throughout with Gareth Barry denied twice in two seconds in the 41st minute, first by Fabricio Coloccini, then by Davide Santon on the line whilst Joe Hart came up with a brilliant save seven minutes earlier when he thwarted Hatem Ben Arfa's follow-up from Clichy's block on Demba Ba.
In the end, however, it was the class of City which came to the fore and now the onus is on United to come up with the goods when the Swans visit Old Trafford.
Newcastle United: 0 Manchester City: 2 (Yaya Toure 71'/89')
Sports Direct Arena, Newcastle-upon-Tyne - 52,389
Yellow cards:NEW - Hatem Ben Arfa 26', Cheick Tiote 32', James Perch 36', Shane Ferguson 80' MANC - Gareth Barry 30', Yaya Toure 38', Pablo Zabaleta 79'
