Manchester City 3 - 1 Newcastle United

Man City 3-1 Newcastle

Updated: September 29, 2007, 2:59 PM UK

Elano led Newcastle a merry dance at Eastlands as Manchester City roared back to record a fourth successive Premier League home win.

The Brazilian midfielder had already established himself as a clear man-of-the-match with an inspired display of cultured passing in a pulsating contest when he strode up to rocket home the 86th-minute free-kick which guaranteed Sven-Goran Eriksson's men their 3-1 victory.

Eriksson has steadfastly refused to set any targets for his team despite their amazing start to the campaign.

But on this evidence they look viable top-six contenders, even if their chances of matching Manchester United and Arsenal, whom they joined at the top of the table, no matter how briefly, are slender.

• Elano is one of the greats - Sven

Certainly, after two years of drab fare under Stuart Pearce, City are not complaining and it should not be long before the empty seats which have become such a regular feature of recent home games are filled.

Although Eriksson's men had recorded single-goal victories in all their previous home games this season, it always seemed unlikely that run would continue against a Newcastle side packed with talent, even without Michael Owen, but without an away clean sheet in 10 months.

The return of Shay Given was a big call by Magpies boss Sam Allardyce given how well Stephen Harper has been doing, but the Republic of Ireland star justified the decision with a string of excellent saves, most notably to deny Elano and Ireland either side of the two first-half goals.

Eriksson certainly swooped under the radar when he splashed out £8million of Thaksin Shinawatra's cash on the 26-year-old Elano, who had been strutting his stuff in relative obscurity at Shakhtar Donetsk.

A international regular for Brazil, Elano has a touch of class well beyond the norm. His vision and touch are a delight to see and his promptings kept Newcastle's defence on their toes.

Aside from the inspired volley which brought an equally impressive response from Given, Elano also sent Ireland scurrying away twice, spotting off-the-ball runs that had gone completely unnoticed by beleaguered Magpies left-back Charles N'Zogbia.

On the first occasion, Ireland kept his nerve and rolled a cross to the far post which invited Petrov's clinical finish.

The second should really have seen City snatch an interval lead, but Given stood strong and blocked his fellow countryman's effort with his chest.

Without doubt, Given was the busier keeper, but England Under-21 international Joe Hart, preferred to Kasper Schmeichel by Eriksson, was hardly unemployed.

The £800,000 signing from Shrewsbury could so easily have been embarrassed when a poor first touch left the ball rolling agonisingly along the line as he was momentarily stranded the other side of his post.

Hart kept his cool in admirable fashion and was able to clear, which was just as well as by that stage he had already been beaten by Martins.

Micah Richards has barely put a foot wrong during his astonishing rise to international stardom over the past 18 month, but the City defender found himself on the wrong side of Martins as Geremi lifted a hopeful pass to the edge of the box and the half yard of space was all the Nigerian required to control, then finish in sublime fashion.

Richards had earlier escaped a rash challenge on James Milner, which could easily have presented Newcastle with a penalty, so it seems the 19-year-old is not infallible after all.

Both Eriksson and Allardyce would have wanted to make a flying start to the second period, but only the Swede got his wish as City seized the initiative within 90 seconds of the re-start.

N'Zogbia's unhappy day continued with an aimless header towards the touchline which Petrov was on to in a flash, outpacing Steven Taylor down the left flank before delivering a pin-point cross. With N'Zogbia still out of position, Mpenza was totally unmarked as he stooped to finish.

Newcastle gradually increased the pace as they hunted an equaliser, but the major threat was on their goal.

It took a just-legal challenge by Habib Beye on Richards to deny the youngster a clear run on goal. Then, when City countered once more, Richards stepped inside Jose Enrique but scuffed his shot badly.

Mpenza volleyed Ireland's cross wide, then had a shot blocked by Rozenhal as a frenetic contest reached a suitably frantic finish, with Elano providing the fitting ending.

Elano is one of the greats - Sven

Sven-Goran Eriksson has placed Elano alongside Italian legends Roberto Baggio and Roberto Mancini as one of the best playmakers he has ever worked with.

The Brazil international delivered a footballing masterclass at Eastlands this afternoon, playing a major role in one Manchester City goal, then rocketing home another as the Blues maintained their 100% home record with a 3-1 win over Newcastle.

Eriksson plucked Elano from relative obscurity at Shakhtar Donetsk during the early weeks of his stint as City boss and already the £8million fee is looking like a major bargain.

Elano's silky skills and sumptuous passing game were too much for the Magpies and, as Eriksson observed, the 25-yard free-kick that flew into the top corner of returning keeper Shay Given's goal four minutes from time was total perfection.

'It is impossible to hit the free-kick any better than that,' enthused Eriksson. 'A centimetre either way and it hits the bar or the post.

'Elano is a great footballer. He can do a little bit of everything. I have worked with other top-class creative players in the past; people like Baggio and Mancini, but he is right up there with them.'

Eriksson revealed he spoke to Brazil coach Dunga - who played under the Swede at Fiorentina - before making his move for the 26-year-old, who has not disappointed in City's electrifying start to the season.

'When he came here, he was not physically 100%,' said Eriksson.

'He was a long way off because he hadn't done anything after the Copa America until he joined us.

'But now he is getting physically stronger and getting better and better.

'Every time he gets the ball you have the feeling something will happen.'

Elano was the inspiration behind City's first-half equaliser, chipping a sublime pass beyond Charles N'Zogbia to send Stephen Ireland tearing down the right flank.

The youngster had the presence of mind to send a low cross to the far post, where Martin Petrov belted home his third goal in two games.

Petrov's effort levelled up an inspired Obafemi Martins strike after the Nigerian had taken advantage of a rare lapse from Micah Richards to put the Magpies in front.

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce was still reasonably happy at the break but his mood changed within 90 seconds of the restart as N'Zogbia elected to send a routine header towards the touchline rather than towards the City goal, offering Petrov the opportunity to charge into empty space.

N'Zogbia was still trying to regain his ground when Petrov sent over a cross which Emile Mpenza stopped low to head in.

'We committed defensive suicide,' moaned Allardyce.

'All our defenders have to do is clear the ball back up the pitch and we just didn't.

'After that, they contained us and played on the break, which was exactly what I had asked my players to do.'

Elano's brilliant late effort confirmed City's best start to a top flight campaign in 30 years, a remarkable effort for a team effectively thrown together in a six-week period after Eriksson succeeded Stuart Pearce as manager.

'If we go on playing like that, we will have an excellent season,' said Eriksson.

'I was very happy with everything we did.'