Newcastle United left the Etihad Stadium with nothing more than a fresh reminder that the gap between them and the world's elite won't be closed down quickly. The Magpies stayed in the game until the end last week against Liverpool but this one was all over bar the shouting as the half-time teas were being poured around Eastlands.
Given the season United have endured, with the task of staying up all but secured a couple of weeks ago, there is no shame in losing to champions elect Man City, after all this was the 27th time out of 35 Premier League games they have inflicted defeat on opponents this term. But the future will not just be about the amount of money spent for Eddie Howe It will also be about perfecting the finer moments in games.
Such as Chris Wood taking that early chance that tamely fell into the hands of Ederson or weathering storms better on days like this and keeping the game a more open affair. Yet there is no escaping that class told from the early stages as City pinned Newcastle against a wall and kept them there for the majority of the afternoon.
