Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle: Bernardo Silva scores twice in first-half with deflected efforts as Pep Guardiola’s Treble-chasers ease into FA Cup semi-finals

After the turmoil and chaos of Anfield last weekend, this was the return of the Manchester City we know. Orderly, goal-oriented, reliable and of course fully in control. Pep Guardiola’s team is facing yet another semi-final of the national cup and no one will be the least bit surprised.

Admittedly, the opposition is battered and bruised and in decline. Newcastle, so soon after the highs of last season, are currently heading in the wrong direction at an alarming and increasingly predictable pace.

There’s no shortage of effort from Eddie Howe’s team, but the truth is they’ve never played in this match, not really. City have been impressively ruthless throughout and the fact that they have now reached six FA Cup semi-finals in a row says everything about them. No team has ever done that before.

The two goals that decided the match both came in the first half from City’s Portuguese wonder Bernardo Silva. The 29-year-old is now in his seventh season at the Etihad Stadium and during that time his levels have rarely dipped for long. In many ways he is the embodiment of this ruthless team.

Both goals were deflected. The first from the back of Dan Burns thigh and the second from Sven Botman’s forehead. The first contact was completely understandable.

Bernardo Silva’s shot deflected over Martin Dubravka off Dan Burn’s outstretched leg

Silva’s second went in just after the half hour via the head of defender Sven Botman

Burn was just trying to get in the way, as any conscientious defender should do. The second was a little different. Botman did not have to head Silva’s shot, as his goalkeeper would have saved it. But for some reason he did, and Martin Dubravka did not.

But this wasn’t about individual blame for Newcastle, just as City’s victory wasn’t determined by one brilliant player. This was about the collective, on both sides of the equation.

It’s easy to feel a little sorry for Newcastle. They’re an honest couple who just look like they’ve been around too many times. The concern for them and their manager is that it is only mid-March and there is still a lot of football to be played in the Premier League. They are currently tenth and the team below them, Chelsea, have a game in hand.

At least things didn’t get ugly for them here. It seemed like it might happen at some point. But City threatened only sporadically as the match wore on in the rain. In the end, they settled for what they had. On to the next.

City’s domestic cup record under Guardiola is, as we know, exemplary. Despite some big clubs in the Premier League claiming to ignore the competition, this has never been the way under Guardiola’s watch. It is no surprise to see the strength of the team the City manager has chosen, and no surprise to see the purpose and intent of the football they played.

Alexander Isak had Newcastle’s best chance, but his shot was saved by Stefan Ortega

Man City dominated the tie as they progressed to their sixth straight FA Cup semi-final

The festivities at the Etihad were enthusiastic enough, but certainly not wild. They expected this

Manchester City’s domestic cup record under manager Pep Guardiola is, as we know, exemplary

They were able to play through Newcastle’s midfield a little more easily than they might have thought and once they had green grass in front of them, Silva, Phil Foden and Jeremy Doku were dangerous throughout.

Doku wasn’t as effective in the second half of the season as he was in the first, but he was a dangerous free agent here. Perhaps it was because he was allowed to get past Newcastle’s desperately leggy midfield.

Newcastle were competitive in the first ten minutes, but had to run without the ball too much. And when City’s midfield moved the ball from left to right across the pitch into Silva’s possession in the thirteenth minute, the home side were in business.

Burn tried to hold on but looked worried about a tackle in the penalty area. So when Silva finally fired his shot, the decisive deflection followed.

The festivities at the Etihad were enthusiastic enough, but certainly not wild. They expected this. Yet the home team did not go wild. Erling Haaland almost blundered through but Dubravka came out and smothered, with Newcastle committing a second act of self-harm in the 31st minute.

Once again it was Silva who shot from the same side. This time Dubravka would certainly have made it, but Botman’s forehead took away that option and suddenly it all looked a bit risky for Newcastle. Another goal between then and half-time and it would have been damage limitation time.

City threatened again. Doku and Foden came close, while Ruben Dias had a header saved. There was one flicker in the Newcastle attack when Alexander Isak delivered a powerful low volley from twelve yards which City’s reserve goalkeeper Stefan Ortega did well to parry with a low left hand.

Newcastle’s prospects did not improve much in the second half. Howe introduced four substitutes – including Miguel Almiron – with 25 minutes to go, giving them some forward momentum in what became quite a drawn-out football game. One pass from Almiron brought Isak in within a few minutes, allowing the Swede to step on the ball. That summed up Newcastle’s day.

The visiting team was supported by large numbers behind one goal throughout. When aren’t they? And as the teams left the field, the voice of Newcastle singer Sam Fender disappeared from the PA, the only Geordie to leave any impression on this long early evening.

Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden came close to scoring, while Ruben Dias had a header saved

Doku was not as effective in the second half of the season as he was in the first