It’s difficult to make things look easy – but that’s become a speciality for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola.

Isak came closest, but should he feel particularly aggrieved?

We are not quite at the damage limitation moment for Newcastle United as a goal for Howe’s team would propel them right back in to this game. Indeed Ortega’s save to deny Isak on the volley shortly after Silva’s second goal was a really good one with his left hand.

However, Newcastle are hanging on to their self-respect a little bit. Foden, Doku and Dias have all been close since the score ticked over to 2-0.

Would Newcastle take a 2-0 defeat at this half-time stage? No they wouldn’t. But another goal for City and it will be time to get out of dodge for the team from the north-east…

Watching Manchester City, it looks like they have one foot in the semi-final already. Their control of the game’s tempo, and bursts of brilliance from Doku, Silva, and Foden put them out of sight in the first half.

But 2-0 is hardly evidence of a rout. There’s a big 45 minutes to come for the travellers.

Just the two minutes of extra time, which Newcastle look to seize when Willock sets off after snatching the ball on the halfway line. But he can’t find Isak accurately, and in a trice, Man City are all over the striker, and heading back up the pitch.

But the whistle blows before they can inflict more damage. What a team talk to come from Eddie Howe if the visitors have a hope of turning things around.

Another excellent chance for Man City from Doku, as he sets off steaming to the edge of the box, tracked by Lascelles. He fires towards goal, but Dubravka comes off his line to make a meaningful block.

With the ensuing corner, Haaland nearly finds the back of the net with a bulleted header, but again the ‘keeper pulls off a quick-thinking save, dropping right on the line.

Silva takes three corners in quick succession, with the last falling to a Newcastle boot, where it’s lashed upfield.

But Newcastle are too slow to seize a quick counter, and possession returns to the hosts, who begin their march back into Magpie territory.

Lascelles boots the ball up the right straight to a waiting Akanji.

Newcastle have had their moments of potency, but there have been real stretches of indolence, and Foden takes advantage now as he powers into the centre of the Newcastle half and goes for goal in the box.

Strong defending from Guimaraes knocks him off course, and sends the ball flying over the crossbar.

Jeremy Doku has had an up and down debut season at City. He was superb early in the campaign, his direct running and dribbling proving a throwback to the kind of player we don’t see that often in the Premier League anymore.

He has struggled to maintain that form and had a dreadful game here in the Manchester derby a couple of weeks ago.

But with Jack Grealish struggling for form and for fitness, Doku is in the team here and having an influence on the game so far. One on one when he gets a defender isolated, he looks very dangerous indeed…

Ortega is finally forced into action with Newcastle’s best chance of the evening, Isak bringing down a springy header with a view to leathering it past the goalkeeper.

A strong effort, but Ortega’s save doesn’t have to be too sharp to keep it out.

Things are looking very sticky indeed for Newcastle, who provided little resistance to both goals, and continue to struggle keeping weapons like Silva under wraps.

At the double! And Dubravka is absolutely spitting feathers with his defenders, after the Portugal international is given the freedom of the right of the box, takes his time before striking.

Botman’s head tips the ball in – another unwanted confirmation from the visitors.

Foden wafts the ball over the pack, but it’s defended out in the box for a corner. Haaland leaps to head the ball goalwards by the far post, but when he can’t find the target, Newcastle break quickly – although it comes to little.

Doku goes streaking through the centre of Newcastle’s half before he’s felled by Lascelles, dragged down at the collar.

The Magpie is rewarded with a yellow card, an arguably worthy trade. But City have a freekick now from 30 yards out.

Foden has a crack at Dubravka’s goal from distance, and overcooks it, the ball flying long.

Some imperfections, at least.

Silva streaks through the right before cutting to the metronomic Rodri at the top of the box. There’s Newcastle pressure, with defenders stuffed in their half, but Man City are content to wait and time their attack right.

But they suffer now, after Newcastle go for an aggressive turnover, looking for Gordon on the right.

Murphy running down that flank now looks pacey, but there aren’t enough team-mates to support him, and his eventual cross to stroked straight to Ortega.

Stroke of luck in the scoring of the City goal, obviously, but the weight of City possession doesn’t lie. If Newcastle are going to get anything from this game they are going to have to break up that midfield stranglehold that Rodri and Mateo Kovacic currently have on the game.

Howe’s team have been competitive so far. They aren’t in danger of being overrun. But City are comfortable without being at their best and that will concern the hordes of Newcastle fans gathered high up behind the goal their team are currently attacking.

Newcastle are pushing now, much to the appreciation of the travelling fans, and win a corner after a spell of front-footed pressure.

Murphy sweeps in the high outswinger, but after it bounces off a Newcastle head, the flag goes up, and it’s Man City’s kick.

More woe for Newcastle as Schar picks up a yellow for a hefty challenge on Haaland – during which, he almost certainly gets a boot to the ball. It’s an unlucky one – and unluckier still, as if Newcastle do hit back, it rules him out of the semi-final.

Giving Man City a hand – not top of any opponent’s to-do list.

Newcastle had started well and, while that goal is unfortunate, they did back off far too much – that’s asking for trouble versus City. At what point were they going to challenge Silva?

It was far, far too easy for Man City to bag that, but a symptom of their peerless dominance that they’re ahead after very little effort indeed.

Now, they come again, with Kovacic chipping the Newcastle defenders to find Haaland on the edge of the six-yard box – and Dubravka has to scramble to gather up the ball safely.

What a wild one! Silva might have had some hope for it, but his lofted ball takes a crucial deflection on route to Dubravka’s net, off a hapless Burn, seeking the block.

Man City are ahead after, in the coolest of fashion.

Guardiola pulls Kovacic aside to give his first 10 minute notes, as play briefly pauses for a downed Guimaraes. Newcastle’s defending has looked flinty in these opening moments, and Man City are yet to show real bite.

Murphy tags a running Doku racing into the box to stop him from picking off a clever pass, and neutralises the threat for Newcastle to spring and counter.

Isak makes some headway into the box but he’s held back by Akanji, prompting City’s next flood forward. When that’s rebuffed, Newcastle try again before getting caught offside – the game’s nicely open as things stand.

Newcastle will have to be snappy on the counter here, as Man City hog possession, but for now, the focus on defence: Walker on the right streaks forward to set up a waiting Haaland in the box, but the defenders make sure he’s left wanting.

Silva is next to send a sliding progressive ball forward, which Haaland chases after to tap through to Foden, but the hosts can’t zero-in their threat, and the ball eventually flies past Dubravka for a goalkick.

Newcastle make good early headway into the Man City box, and nearly get Isak away with a lovely curving diagonal pass that almost finds the striker on the edge of the box.

But he’s tracked by Dias, who bullies the ball away to snuff out the budding danger.

The hosts understandbly start on the front foot, with Doku sprinting down the left wing before he’s knocked back level with the six-yard box for City throw.

The City machine wastes no time to spring into gear, but they’re holding possession being pushed back by the visitors – until Doku is overturned for a freekick just over the halfway line inside the Man City half.

As strains of ‘Blue Moon’ fade out, Simon Hooper blows the whistle, and the hosts kick off our second of the day’s FA Cup quarter-finals.

We’ll be underway at the Etihad in just a matter of moments.

And as the players head off the pitch, he makes two youngsters’ days.

And he reports on the simmering tension at the Etihad as we count down to kick-off.

Liverpool last weekend, now a Champions League draw pitting them against Real Madrid. And not forgetting a huge Premier League clash here against Arsenal in two weeks.

So if this FA Cup tie isn’t exactly getting Manchester City’s heart racing then that would be understandable.

With that in mind it does feel a little flat here ahead of kick off but one of the admirable things about Pep Guardiola’s time at City is that he has always taken the domestic cup competitions seriously.

So I expect City to be at it here which leaves only a question mark over Eddie Howe’s injury-hit Newcastle.

Having not looked at their energetic best in losing at Chelsea last Monday night, they will have to be considerably better here. Encouraging news for Howe and indeed England that Anthony Gordon is fit starts the game.

Since I come to the football club, (silverware has) been in the background for us.

Last year we came very close, we want to go closer. The motivation today is to get closer to Wembley, and an FA cup final. That’s huge for us.

In the three games we’ve had against them, they’ve been tight games. today it’s going to be an interesting tactical battle.

I believe in the players we have (we can cause them problems).

He also confirms that Anthony Gordon is fully fit, and has been training for two days with no problems.

… including one Erling Haaland.

After a muted turn against Liverpool, the goalscoring behemoth will likely be seeking an immediate bounce-back, unfortunately for the visitors.

On whether he enjoys the business end of the season.

If we are in contention for the title yes, if the last part of the season we’re far away from everything, I don’t enjoy it.

But the Man City manager was reticent about dreaming of a double treble at the end of the campaign.

I don’t think about that.

Last year’s champions haven’t had the smoothest of roads to quarter-finals, having to despatch long-time bug-bears Tottenham in north London, but ties against Huddersfield and Luton scarcely troubled Guardiola’s side.

Newcastle battled past Blackburn Rovers on penalties in their last tie, but overturning Fulham, and derby rivals Sunderland were more straightforward battles.

…and providing our Newcastle WhatsApp channel with piping-hot pre-match content.

You can have a listen by joining the channel, following Craig’s instructions below. Very helpful!

This is the second of the quarter-finals taking place across this FA Cup weekend, with the draw taking place after the final whistle on tomorrow afternoon’s showpiece clash: Manchester United versus Liverpool.

Why not have a peruse through Mail Sport’s lowdown on the competition as things stand, below.

With just a hint of trepidation in their eyes.

With three cups still in contention, Guardiola’s side look frighteningly close to repeating a feat that until last June was peerless.

After having drawn Real Madrid in the Champions League – who they defeated en route to glory last year – and seemingly on cruise control in the league after regaining the services of a fully-fit Kevin De Bruyne, victory today would only bolster voices in support of their winning a second treble.

Tino Livramento is the latest of the walking wounded in black and white, after picking up an injury against Chelsea which sidelines him this afternoon.

Five changes for Guardiola’s side after their last FA Cup run-out Doku, Foden, Rodri, Dias, and Gvardiol come in for Grealish, De Bruyne, Nunes, Ake, and Stones.

But injury-ravaged Newcastle make just two changes from the side that lost at Stamford Bridge, with Lascelles and Murphy coming in for Livramento and Almiron.

Jack Grealish is back in the matchday squad – and his coach is keen to see him back to his treble-winning best after persistent injury.

You can reach Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan’s report below.

… and in some style. Coventry left it late but a dazzling stoppage-time performance handed the Championship side one of the results of the seasons.

Feast on Haji Wright’s winner – and Tom Collomosse’s report – here.

Newcastle’s last run-out was a limp showing against fellow mid-table strugglers Chelsea, and Jamie Carragher didn’t hold back in his assessment of Howe’s prospects on Monday Night Football.

But the Magpies manager didn’t feel it was the fairest assessment – Mail Sport’s Craig Hope has more, below.

Eddie Howe will have been ruing Newcastle’s FA Cup draw when they were handed a fourth successive meeting with Guardiola’s treble-winners, but while things have been less fruitful in the league, they gave Man City a poke in the eye when they knocked them out of the Carabao Cup in September.

That being said, going up against Man City remains a formidable prospect – and Newcastle have won just once in their last six meetings.

Things won’t be so peaceful in just under an hour and a half…

Newcastle may be struggling with uneven results in the league, but one man remains a perenial bright spot for the Magpies – so much so that rivals are lining up to poach him if Newcastle are forced to make player sales in the summer window.

Guardiola was the latest in a long line of admirers on Friday – you can read Mail Sport’s report below.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of this Saturday’s second FA Cup quarter-finals, as title-holders Manchester City welcome Newcastle to a testing clash at the Etihad.

Whether two Premier League sides could concievably see out a ‘cupset’ is debatable, but Newcastle certainly have a mountain to climb as they bid to knock out Pep Guardiola’s side amid a patch of tricky form.

Kick-off is at 5.30pm, but before then, we’ll be bringing you team news, build-up, and more.