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Oh what might have been for Newcastle on a night they dominated but just couldn't make a breakthrough. Alan Pardew wanted his side to book a League Cup quarter-final spot to give them a boost following their defeat to Sunderland on Sunday and they should have done.
They dominated for large spells of the match against a Manchester City side that lacked creativity and imagination for long spells.
Yet, while City lacked imagination, Newcastle lacked bite, squandering their chances and allowing the visitors an extra half hour during which Edin Dzeko crafted the first for Alvaro Negredo and scored the second in six decisive minutes. It was harsh on Newcastle but they only had themselves to blame.
"It was disappointing not to score; I thought we did enough," said Pardew. "I couldn't ask more from the players. We had Manchester City in a difficult spot, but when you take the lead in extra time it's critical because players get tired and it's difficult to pull it back."
Like the Magpies, City were smarting from defeats to late goals at the weekend which led to a cagey opening half hour.
Then Newcastle began to test City's defensive resolve as Papiss Cisse, Shola Ameobi and Vurnon Anita all went close.
The second half was a fairly blunt affair with the best chances for either side coming in the final two minutes. First Negredo forced a punched clearance from Tim Krul, then Newcastle raced up the other end and forced a corner. However, Yoan Gouffran could only head Yohan Cabaye's cross wide of the far post.
Eight minutes into the extra half hour Dzeko worked an opening on the left and crossed to the near post where Negredo nipped in front of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa to tap the ball home.
Despite the fact there was ample time for an equaliser it had the feel of a fatal wound. If it wasn't, the killer blow came six minutes later when Dzeko turned goalscorer after James Milner carved open the Newcastle defence with decisive pass, allowing the Bosnian to round Krul for an easy finish.
With minutes left the ball fell to Hatem Ben Arfa on the edge of the area but his shot was cleared off the line by Joleon Lescott denying the home side even a consolation.
"I was very pleased with the result," said City boss Manuel Pellegrini. "It was a very close match."
