You do not have to be a diehard Newcastle United supporter to know they have been on the wrong end of many Manchester City beatings in recent years. Any Toon fan making the trip to the Etihad Stadium could be forgiven for expecting their annual hiding on Sunday.
The Magpies have lost 25 of their last 31 outings against the Premier League champions - a dismal run of form that stretches before their game-changing takeover in 2008. While Sheikh Mansour’s arrival in English football could be outlined as the principal cause for the Magpies’ woes, the problems run deeper.
Just one league win away to City since 2000 cements their status as Newcastle’s bogey side. Even at home, United have won just once in 17 years - a 2-1 victory under Rafa Benitez in January 2019.
