Manchester City moved to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal with a tense victory against Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium.
The Gunners opened the door to City by squandering a two-goal lead against doomed Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek - but Newcastle made Pep Guardiola's side fight all the way for a vital three points.
Nico O'Reilly's two first-half goals, either side of Lewis Hall's equaliser, set the platform for City's victory, putting pressure on Arsenal before Sunday's north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur (16:30 GMT).
Newcastle, however, made light of their 5,000-mile round trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag in a Champions League play-off, giving City plenty of anxiety in the second half before the win was secured.
City, knowing victory would push them on to Arsenal's shoulder, made a predictably fast start and went ahead in the 14th minute, O'Reilly's shot carrying too much power for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, who should have done better having got a hand to the effort.
Newcastle were posing threats of their own and were quickly level, Hall's shot deflecting past Gianluigi Donnarumma off Rayan Ait-Nouri after City failed to clear a corner.
City were briefly set back, but went ahead again after 27 minutes when Antoine Semenyo showed more desire than Nick Woltemade to play in Erling Haaland, who provided a perfect cross for O'Reilly to head home at the far post.
Nerves were frayed inside the Etihad in the closing stages, and it needed a huge save by Donnarumma from Harvey Barnes in the dying seconds before City could finally celebrate.
Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United
Become a 99p member of ours: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7GG4HsvV8hvKSjl_VWW5rg/join
Amazon NUFC shop: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/newcastlefanstv
Do you need your video edited? We can do it for a small fee, get in touch: info@newcastlefanstv.com
30 day free Amazon Prime: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/primesignup/ref=acph_piv?tag=leelawler-21
Amazon Audible: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audible-Membership/dp/B00OPA2XFG?actionCode=AMN30DFT1Bk06604291990WX&tag=leelawler-21
3 free months unlimited Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/unlimited?tag=leelawler-21
Sign up for Amazon Business: https://www.amazon.co.uk/tryab?tag=leelawler-21
Sign up for Amazon music: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/unlimited?tag=leelawler-21
Website: https://www.newcastlefanstv.com
X: https://www.twitter.com/newcastlefanstv
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newcastlefanstv
NFTV Extra: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQf0rGMIk51RyQF8CvynSRAG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newcastlefanstv
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/newcastle-fans-tv
The Gunners opened the door to City by squandering a two-goal lead against doomed Wolverhampton Wanderers in midweek - but Newcastle made Pep Guardiola's side fight all the way for a vital three points.
Nico O'Reilly's two first-half goals, either side of Lewis Hall's equaliser, set the platform for City's victory, putting pressure on Arsenal before Sunday's north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur (16:30 GMT).
Newcastle, however, made light of their 5,000-mile round trip to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag in a Champions League play-off, giving City plenty of anxiety in the second half before the win was secured.
City, knowing victory would push them on to Arsenal's shoulder, made a predictably fast start and went ahead in the 14th minute, O'Reilly's shot carrying too much power for Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope, who should have done better having got a hand to the effort.
Newcastle were posing threats of their own and were quickly level, Hall's shot deflecting past Gianluigi Donnarumma off Rayan Ait-Nouri after City failed to clear a corner.
City were briefly set back, but went ahead again after 27 minutes when Antoine Semenyo showed more desire than Nick Woltemade to play in Erling Haaland, who provided a perfect cross for O'Reilly to head home at the far post.
Nerves were frayed inside the Etihad in the closing stages, and it needed a huge save by Donnarumma from Harvey Barnes in the dying seconds before City could finally celebrate.
Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United
Become a 99p member of ours: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7GG4HsvV8hvKSjl_VWW5rg/join
Amazon NUFC shop: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/newcastlefanstv
Do you need your video edited? We can do it for a small fee, get in touch: info@newcastlefanstv.com
30 day free Amazon Prime: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/primesignup/ref=acph_piv?tag=leelawler-21
Amazon Audible: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audible-Membership/dp/B00OPA2XFG?actionCode=AMN30DFT1Bk06604291990WX&tag=leelawler-21
3 free months unlimited Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/unlimited?tag=leelawler-21
Sign up for Amazon Business: https://www.amazon.co.uk/tryab?tag=leelawler-21
Sign up for Amazon music: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/unlimited?tag=leelawler-21
Website: https://www.newcastlefanstv.com
X: https://www.twitter.com/newcastlefanstv
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newcastlefanstv
NFTV Extra: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQf0rGMIk51RyQF8CvynSRAG
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newcastlefanstv
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/newcastle-fans-tv