Treble rings loud in Toon ears as City come through tough test in defence of title

THIS felt big. City only took three points from their fixture with Newcastle, but given the circumstances it felt more than that.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

Eddie Howe's side arrived with their best chance in years of winning at the Etihad for the first time, and left as pointless as any previous side.

Pep Guardiola had been clear in advance just how much he wasn't looking forward to this game - a Saturday evening squeezed into the schedule after Thursday's flight back from Athens with all the grace of a pig in lipstick.

The timing was bad enough, but having to play one of the best sides in the league made it even grimmer.

City's squad has continued to thin after beating Sevilla as well. John Stones picked up an injury in training to join Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne on the absentees list, while Aymeric Laporte was also missing from the squad (as was Joao Cancelo again, if that is notable anymore).

It isn't like City had played particularly well in Greece either, with Cole Palmer's looping header earning them a route back into the game before an unexpected shootout victory against a team that is usually much better than the Blues at penalties.

With another strange week in the transfer window leaving Guardiola no clearer on what squad he will have to work with, it was a case of working with what he and the club had got.

When you've won the Treble, it turns out that is still quite a lot. A rowdy full house packed in to see their team show exactly why they have had so much success.

Emboldened by the wins last season, City's first power play came as the players emerged from the tunnel to be greeted by the three trophies by the dugout with flags depicting them draped over the middle of the opposite stand. Where once other clubs have used trophies to try to gain an advantage over the Blues, now it is their turn.