The New Year for Newcastle United is a tale of two Cities: if Stoke inflict an embarrassing defeat on Sam Allardyce's side in the FA Cup on Sunday, as the men from Manchester did in the Premier League here last night, Newcastle's manager will move into a bleak house from which he may not emerge without a P45.

Far more intelligent in possession, City stunned Allardyce's side twice on the counter through the excellent Elano in the first half and Gelson Fernandes in the second, both times exposing uncertainty in Newcastle's defence.

How Newcastle could do with centre-backs of the quality of Richard Dunne and Micah Richards.

At the final whistle a Newcastle fan shouted ``You're a disgrace to football'' at Allardyce, but the overwhelming mood, apart from a flurry of boos, was simply subdued.

Newcastle had actually played well before Elano struck just before half-time, the team playing with greater width and enterprise than recently. Damien Duff's return clearly helped, a move which allowed James Milner to attack down the right, but familiar defensive frailties cost them dear .

Ghosts from England's past were all around St James's Parkm with Steve McClaren in the stands and Sven-Goran Eriksson, who brought the elegant talent that is Elano to the Premier League, in the away dugout.

Allardyce, who once harboured a dream of managing England, had set up Newcastle in a more attacking formation, with Milner and Duff giving real width, against Eriksson's counter-attackers.

Support

Darius Vassell played the lone front-runner, with Stephen Ireland, Elano and the left-sided Martin Petrov seeking to support him at every opportunity.

Elano made a superb run into the box after 20 minutes, completely unnoticed by Newcastle but not by Ireland, who had been gifted the ball by Cacapa. Fortunately for the anxious hordes on the Gallowgate, Taylor managed to block Ireland's pass.

But Newcastle did not learn.

Before Elano defined the first half, moments of hope sprang up for Newcastle, with Obafemi Martins, starting ahead of a fully fit Michael Owen for 45 minutes, bringing a good save from the impressive Joe Hart.

Newcastle then pieced together a terrific attack, the ball dancing between the dexterous feet of Martins and Viduka before Dunne ended the fun with a fine tackle.

With snow imminent, Charles N'Zogbia fittingly set off on a slalom run, weaving past Elano, Ireland and Nedum Onuoha as if they were flags on a blue run. His shot, though, was too close to Hart.

Then Milner zigzagged in from the right, before overelaborating. The moment was lost.

But Newcastle could never relax, not with talents like Elano and Petrov lurking, not with a defence that still lacks organisation. Petrov cut in from the left and drew a marvellous stretching save from Shay Given.

Typically

The Bulgarian was typically busy, and Newcastle were fortunate that their right-back, Habib Beye, lacks nothing in pace.

But then came Elano, bringing terror to Newcastle's defence and a dark cloud hurtling across Allardyce's face. The Brazilian created the goal, delivering a wonderful backheel to Ireland 30 yards out. Newcastle froze.

Ireland drove on, gliding past Butt before teasing the ball through to Vassell. Facing away from goal, the former England man laid the ball back to the onrushing Elano, who brought down that left foot and placed the ball firmly past Given.

As Allardyce slumped in his seat, and Newcastle fans cursed their luck and their defence, City celebrated wildly.

Having shown the beauty in his game, Elano then revealed a surprising beastly streak by clattering into Faye. Martin Atkinson brandished a yellow card but it could easily have been red.

Allarydce had to act. Martins was removed and on came Owen, who almost scored with his first touch. When Duff crossed from the left, Owen had timed his run perfectly through the middle and met the Irishman's cross first time. Hart embellished his burgeoning reputation with another good stop.

With Newcastle committed to attack, City struck again on the break. Vedran Corluka lifted the ball forward and Eriksson's two subs did the rest. Kelvin Etuhu laid the ball across for the unmarked Gelson, who swept his shot past Given.

Hard times lie ahead for Allardyce.

- Henry Winter