St James’ Park has been a favourite spot for City in their decade of
Premier League glory, and their latest visit was no different
![Manchester City enjoy Sunday stroll in their north-east happy place | Andy Brassell](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/92c4840bd053b2544b51a44f185610bc2e8359f4/0_0_4672_2804/master/4672.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=3a1b134ba822ea2577f60e871915970f)
It is hard not to think that
Pep Guardiola would have been doubly pleased on receiving news of his negative PCR test in the run-up to Manchester City’s visit to Newcastle. Nobody of a sky-blue persuasion would want to miss a visit to this particular corner of the north-east.
This is said not just from the prospect of filling one’s boots in the days before
Christmas against – still – one of the division’s most fragile teams, but because Newcastle and their city-centre home are touchstones in City’s decade of Premier League glory. St James’s Park will always have a special place in City hearts, from the penultimate game of the season in May 2012 in which an irresistible Yaya Touré was let off the leash to score two late goals and set up the most thrilling final day of them all – leading to a first title of English champions in 44 years and the first of five Premier League wins in 10 years.