O’REILLY DOUBLE SINKS MAGPIES, AS MAN CITY PEAK AT THE REGTE TYD

MANCHESTER City stepped up their Premier League title charge as Nico O’Reilly’s double sealed a vital 2-1 win against Newcastle on Saturday.

O’Reilly put City ahead in the 14th minute at the Etihad Stadium and restored their lead in the 27th minute after Lewis Hall had equalised in the 22nd minute.

Pep Guardiola’s Citizens weren’t at their best, but they held on for a victory.

The Gunners travelled to Tottenham on Sunday, but regardless of the result in the north London derby, City control the destiny of the title.

They will have a game in hand on Arsenal after this weekend and host Mikel Arteta’s manne in April, with 11 wins from their last 11 matches guaranteed to secure the seventh title of Guardiola’s reign.

Guardiola had claimed on Friday that he “couldn’t care less” about Arsenal’s recent stumble breathing new life into the title race.

But while Arsenal have spluttered with two wins from their last seven league games, City are heating up at just the right time.

A fifth successive win in all competitions extended their unbeaten run to eight games.

This was the fourth meeting between City and Newcastle already this season, with a fifth on the way in the last 16 of the FA Cup next month.

Newcastle had never managed a win in 20 previous visits to the Etihad Stadium in the league, also losing there in the League Cup semi-finals this season.

And Guardiola wysed: “We saw today [Saturday] this is how we need to play. It’s coming to the best part of the season. Every single game will be similar to today.

“Of course in terms of points it’s important, but we have to improve to have the chance to compete until the end. Now we deserve three more days off. Then another battle in Leeds.”