Raheem Sterling strikes against Newcastle as Manchester City streak continues

Raheem Sterling scored the only goal of the game against Newcastle as Manchester City stretched their winning streak to 18 in a row.

The Premier League leaders are now 15 points clear at the top of the table.

City were dominant throughout but failed to convert their chances, with Kevin De Bruyne amongst the culprits who hit the woodwork rather than the target, but Sterling's 13th league goal of the season - as many as the England international netted in the last two seasons combined - in the 31st minute was enough to take City to within one of Bayern Munich's, and Pep Guardiola's, consecutive win record in the top five European leagues.

Sergio Aguero, looking to score his 10th goal against Newcastle since arriving in England, should have broken the deadlock as early as the eighth minute, but his tame finish came out off the post from close range.

Aguero’s frustrations continued as he was then denied thanks to a stunning stop by Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot, before seeing a ferocious strike from distance also come out off the frame of the goal.

The pressure did tell, though, as a wonderful De Bruyne pass carved Newcastle open, setting up Sterling, with the City forward squeezing the ball past Elliot to break the deadlock.

Newcastle were as negative as you can get in the opening half hour, but came to life and almost levelled moments after going behind, but Nicolas Otamendi headed off the line from Rolando Aarons.

After the break, City continued to miss chances, and such profligacy could have proved costly, as Dwight Gayle had a great chance to equalise late on, but headed wide as the home side slipped to a fifth successive home defeat.

Were Newcastle beaten before kick off? There is parking the bus, then there is being already beaten before a ball is even kicked. Of course many teams will adopt a policy of damage limitation against this City side, but Newcastle weren’t ever even interested in getting a result from the off. Jonjo Shelvey’s shot directly from kick-off summed up Newcastle’s attitude - they just wanted this game out of the way. Then, City’s goal did spark them into life, and at least applied some pressure in the second half. Such a tame opening half-hour cost them in the end. City were not at their best, but they didn’t have to be even close to that level to earn another three points. City played their part in the potential shock, after missing a host of chances, but Newcastle, in this defeatist mood, were never going to capitalise.

Kevin De Bruyne. What else is left to be said about the Belgian metronome? Yes, he was afforded the freedom of the St James’ pitch at times, but some of his passing was sublime in the extreme. The assist for the only goal of the match was inch-perfect. That is now nine for the season for De Bruyne. He just gets better and better.

Newcastle: Elliot 7, Mbemba 5, Lascelles 6, Dummett 5, Yedlin 4, Shelvey 3, Diame 3, Manquillo 4, Murphy 4, Aarons 5, Joselu 3... Subs: Gayle 6, Atsu 6, Merino 6.

Manchester City: Ederson 6, Walker 6, Kompany 6, Otamendi 7, Danilo 6, De Bruyne 8, Fernandinho 8, Gundogan 8, Bernardo Silva 6, Sterling 8, Aguero 7... Subs: Mangala 6, Sane N/A, Gabriel Jesus 6.

8’ - POST! There was the moment for Aguero to net his 10th goal against Newcastle after being picked out by a brilliant Fernandinho cross, but his tame effort from close range comes out off the post.

16’ - SAVE! Dreadful tackle from Jacob Murphy on Ilkay Gundogan. Somehow he escapes caution. De Bruyne whips in the free-kick, free header for Aguero, but Rob Elliot flings out an arm to tip over the top. Stunning stop.

30’ - POST! Again it is Aguero, but this time he cannot do anymore, as he shifts the ball onto his right, fires a ferocious effort at goal from 25 yards, but it clips the post and rolls wide.

31’ - GOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Manchester City. Gorgeous from De Bruyne as he sets up Raheem Sterling for the opener. A thing of beauty. Sterling lays the ball off for De Bruyne and sets off, De Bruyne waits for the right moment, clips a wonderful pass over the Newcastle backline, right onto Sterling's left foot, and the England international squeezes it home for his 13th league goal of the season.

35’ - OFF THE LINE! That's more like it from Newcastle! After showing absolutely no ambition in the first half hour, one ball into the City box causes problems, Walker slips, Aarons is there, he wonderfully chips the ball over Ederson, but Otamedi gets back to head off the line under pressure from Joselu.

40’ - MISS! City counter, and en masse. Sterling feeds De Bruyne, he clips the cross to the back post, Aguero looks certain to score, but another tame strike is blocked.

65’ - NO GOAL! It opens up for De Bruyne, he arrows the ball towards the bottom corner, it comes out off the post, Aguero is on hand to tap home into the empty net, but he is offside.

76’ - DRAMA! Mistake from City, Gayle capitalises, nicks it past Danilo, goes tumbling to the ground, but instead of pointing to the spot, referee Andre Marriner cautions Gayle for simulation.

Manchester City have now won 11 consecutive away Premier League games – a joint top-flight record (also 11 wins in a row by Chelsea between April and December 2008).

Nicolas Otamendi completed 122 passes for Man City in this match– seven more than all the outfield players of Newcastle managed combined (115).

Rafael Benitez has now lost six of his last 10 home Premier League matches – he had lost six of his previous 110 before this run; 38% of Benitez’s total home Premier League defeats have come this season (6 of 16).