12282017 sports

SPORTS SECTION E

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017

Top athletes take year-end spotlight

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Steven Gardiner It was a year of career-defining moments for the country’s premier quarter-miler, highlighted by a new 400m national record and his first individual medal at a major international event.

The pinnacle of Gardiner’s 2017 season came in August at the IAAF World Championships in London, England, where he finished second in the 400m final in 44.41 seconds at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Stadium.

World record holder Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa successfully defended his title in a winning time of 43.98 while Qatar’s Abdalelah Harqoun got the bronze in 44.48. Gardiner, 22, joined Avard Moncur as the only

other Bahamian to medal in the men’s 400m. Moncur won gold in 2001 in Edmonton, Canada.

The silver medal came two days after he broke the national record with 43.89 in the semi-finals.

Gardiner became the second Bahamian male to medal at the biannual championships and the first member of the 24-member team here to get on the podium.

“I felt pretty good about my performance,” Gardiner told the Tribune. “I came into the final with some dead legs from the semifinal, but overall, I held it together, brought it home and got second, a silver medal. I thank God for finishing healthy and strong.”

In his final race of the season, Gardiner slipped out of the blocks in the 400m in the Diamond League Final at the Zurich Weltklasse. Despite the mishap, Gardiner said he was still pleased

with the way 2017 turned out for him.

“My year has been the best that I’ve ever had in my entire track and field career, not only in terms of running fast this year, but to complete my dream of running 43 this year,” he told The Tribune after the race in the Diamond League Final.

Gardiner began his season by taking the spotlight at the Grenada Invitational in April, on a night designed to showcase hometown star, Kirani James. Gardiner thrilled the crowd with a time of 44.26 to dip below the previous national record of 44.27 held by veteran Chris “Fireman” Brown.

His current national record time of 43.89 finished the season as the fifth fastest time on the IAAF top list in the event.

Gardiner racked up wins on the IAAF Diamond League circuit in

Doha and Stockholm while he also retained his national title at home.

In April at the Doha 2017 in Qatar, Gardiner took first place in 44.60 and nearly two months later in June in Stockholm on Father’s Day, Gardiner clocked 44.58 to take first place once again. He retained his national title at the BAAA National Championships with a winning time of 44.66.

Buddy Hield It was a year of transition for Hield as he was traded away from the franchise that drafted him and won his first NBA accolades while he settled into his new environment.

Hield played 57 games with the New Orleans Pelicans before he was traded to the Sacramento Kings in February.

SEE PAGE 16

SACRAMENTO Kings guard Buddy Hieldshoots over Spurs’ Bryn Forbes (11) during the second half on Saturday. The Spurs won 108-99.

(AP Photo/Steve Yeater)

‘Buddy’ returns to the starting lineup

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AFTER spending 24 games coming off the bench, Buddy

Page 18

Hield returned to the starting lineup for the Sacramento Kings.

In two starts, Hield has continued the pace of production he established since the month of December began and scored efficiently in both games.

Hield finished with 24 points and a season-high eight rebounds in a 108-99 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on December 23.

He shot 9-17 (52 per cent) from the field and 4-7 (57 per cent) from three-point range in 32 minutes.

He followed with just 10 points in 18 foul-plagued minutes of a 122-95 December 26 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

In limited minutes, Hield still managed to shoot 44 per cent (4-9) from the field and 50 per cent (2-4) from three. The second-year guard

said his approach this season has remained the same whether head coach Dave Joerger places him in the starting lineup or relegates him to the bench.

“It’s no different when I get to play, once I get the minutes to prove myself I’m happy,” Hield told reporters following the loss to the Spurs.

With an injury to rookie guard De’Aaron Fox expected to keep him sidelined for two weeks, Joerger reinserted Hield into the starting lineup during his most productive month of the season.

“I’m just sticking with it, thanking God for blessing me to come out here to play each and everyday healthy. I know a lot of people wish they can play so when I get a chance to go out there I have to

showcase what I’ve got and the work I put into this point. I have to keep going, going, going whether I shoot the ball bad or not. I worked too hard to get to this point to fail so I’m just trying to go out there and show the hard work I put in and try to get something out of it,” Hield added.

“I’m just working hard, sticking with the process, you see young guys around the league get success and you want to have that success too so you compete and that’s what competitors do.”

In his first seven games of the season, he shot just 35 per cent from the field and 23 per cent from the three-point line while averaging 10.3 points per game.

As a reserve, he averaged 13 points per game in 22 outings.

NFL

Picks, Page 17

BAHAMIAN PLAYERS SHINE IN THE EURO BASKET

By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

MIKE Carey and Zane Knowles notched their long awaited first win of the season for Étoile Charleville-Mézières to highlight Bahamian pro basketball players in leagues across the globe over the holidays.

After an 0-9 start to the season in French Basketball’s Pro B Division, the underdogs pulled off the biggest upset of the year when they defeated previously unbeaten Entente Orleans 86-85, who fell to 10-1.

Carey finished with 13 points and three assists while Knowles added four points and three rebounds.

On the season, Carey is averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Knowles has averaged 7.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this season.

Also in the French Pro B Division, Jonathan Fairell posted his best game of the season. The Bahamian national team hopeful finished with 23 points and seven rebounds in his ADA Blois club’s 90-89 win over JA Vinchy.

Jaraun “Kino” Burrows finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists in his FOS Provence Basket’s 79-70 win over Denain Voltaire Tuesday night. It was the third consecutive win for his club and on the season, the veteran forward has been one of the team’s leaders at 18.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

In Brazil, David Nesbitt continues to help Paulistano Sao Paolo in the NBB League.

He contributed eight points and four rebounds in their 77-71 win over CR Vasco De Gama Rio de Janiero. With their sixth consecutive win they improved to a league leading 12-2 record. In his first year with the club, Nesbitt is averaging 9.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

In Japan, Kadeem Coleby is also a member of a league leading club and his first place Akita Northern Happinets improved to 22-4 in the Japanese B2 League. Coleby was named the game’s MVP with 18 points and eight rebounds in a 75-64 win over third seeded Yamagata for their fourth consecutive win.

Coleby has posted averages of 10.8 points and six rebounds per game thus far this season.

Also in Japan, but in the Japanese B League D3, Gijo Bain posted eight points and five rebounds for Tokyo Cinq Reves in their 79-74 loss to Aisin AW. In 12 games with the club, he has posted 3.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.

In Slovenia, Kentwan Smith posted 14 points and six rebounds in Levice.s win over BK Usti nad Labem. Smith is averaging 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and his team is a perfect 5-0 thus far in the Alpe Adria Cup regular season.

Veteran forward Bennet Davis continues to put up numbers for MAFC in Hungary’s A Division. He finished with six points, six rebounds and three assists in a 79-54 loss to Alba.

Davis is averaging 15.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

PAGE 16, Thursday, December 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

THE NATIONAL senior and junior team members with their coaches.

Photos: Bahamas Karate Federation

FEDERATION HOLDS FIRST OPEN KARATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS NASSAU, The Bahamas – Prior to the 2017 Christmas Season, the Bahamas Karate Federation (BKF) hosted the 1st Bahamas Open Karate National ChampionshipS, bringing the best competitors from all local associations to display their talents and officially put it all out in the ring.

Participating were 36 athletes ranging in age between seven to 35 years, who exhibited a wonderful display of katas and

exciting kumite matches.

The evening ended with the awarding of medals to all 1st, 2nd & 3rd competitors of each division and the selection of the Bahamas national junior and senior teams.

The Junior National Team from JKR Bahamas are: Myles Worrell, Nathaniel Woodside, Chigozie Ijeoma and Jadyn Munnings. The Senior National Team from Okinawan Goju Ryu are: Ashton Hanna, Demetrius Robinson, and

Casey Myles Scavella. “We congratulate these young men for a remarkable achievement and trust that they will represent us well,” according to a press release.

These teams will travel internationally to major competitions to represent The Bahamas on the world stage.

“The Bahamas Karate Federation wishes to express much thanks to the public for supporting this event, and to the parents, associations and students

alike who helped to make this event the success that it was.”

As these young men travel to make their mark on the world, the Federation asks for continued support as they proudly represent The Bahamas.

The event was held on December 2 at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium.

Sensei Elrick McKinney is president of the Bahamas Karate Federation. Sensei Chinyere Ijeoma is vice president.

NATHANIEL WOODSIDE, Bahamas National Grand Champion.

Top athletes take year-end spotlight FROM PAGE 15 In 25 games for the Kings to conclude the 2016-17 season, Hield made 18 starts and averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and 42 per cent shooting from three-point range.

On the season he averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds on 42 per cent shooting from the field and 39 per cent from threepoint range. He finished fourth in 3-point and free throw percentage, 8th in field goal percentage and 11th in rebounding among all rookies.

Hield was named to the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie First Team in June. He was joined on the AllRookie First Team by Joel Embiid and Dario Saric (Philadelphia 76ers), Malcolm Brogdon (Milwaukee Bucks) and Willy Hernangomez (New York Knicks).

The 24-year-old became the 16th player in Kings franchise history to earn All-Rookie Team distinction.

In his first full season with the team, Hield is still looking to carve out a leadership role with the Kings and represent the “culture change” the franchise is eager to make.

The second-year guard struggled early in the season as a starter and, in his first seven games, he shot just 35 per cent from the field and 23 per cent from the three-point line while averaging 10.3 points per game.

Since making the shift to the bench, he averaged 13.4 points a night while shooting 51 per cent from the floor and 59 per cent from three.

Since going scoreless in just seven minutes against the Chicago Bulls on December 1, Hield has increased his level of play across the board in his last 11 games.

He reached double figures scoring in nine of the last 11 games including two 24-point games within a single week.

For the season, Hield is averaging 12.6 points while shooting 45 per cent from the field, 45 per cent from three and 90 per cent from the free throw line, in contention to join the elite 50-40-90 club.

The 50–40–90 club is considered a group of players who have had a shooting percentage at or above 50% for field goals, 40% for three-pointers, and 90% for free throws during an entire NBA regular season while also achieving the NBA minimum number

of makes in each category.

Only seven players have had 50–40–90 seasons.

DeAndre Ayton The potential of the “The Promise” is something that pundits expect to continue to develop well beyond 2017, but there was no shortage of production on the court for the future NBA lottery pick.

Ayton spent the early portions of 2017 as one of the most sought after high school basketball recruits in America and was named to a pair of elite all-star showcases, the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic.

During the course of the regular season, Ayton averaged 30 points, 19 rebounds and 5.7 blocks for Hillcrest.

On the competitive Nike EYBL Summer Circuit with California Supreme, he averaged 19.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game this season.

He concluded play at the EYBL Peach Jam where he averaged 21 points, 13.2 rebounds and 3 blocks per game.

At Adidas Nations, he averaged 17.4 points and 11 rebounds per game as his team went undefeated en route to a tournament title.

Ayton announced his decision to attend Arizona and join the Wildcats, in a press conference broadcasted live on ESPN’s Sportscenter.

Since he arrived in Tucson, he has been one of the most dominant players in NCAA Division I basketball and has averaged a double-double.

The 19-year-old frontcourt player is averaging 19.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game in leading Arizona to a 10-3 record thus far.

As a freshman, he is becoming the go-to scoring option for the Wildcats and has already racked up one Pac-12 Player of the Week honour thus far.

NBAdraft.net currently lists Ayton as the No.1 projected overall pick in the 2018 draft.

Lucious Fox Jr Fox’s 2017 featured progression within the Tampa Bay Rays organisation and a selection to the annual showcase of Major League Baseball’s top minor league prospects during the midseason All-Star classic.

Fox drove in one RBI, at the 2017 SiriusXM AllStar Futures Game, during the July All-Star festivities in Miami, Florida. Since 1999, the Futures Game has served as a showcase for the top minor league prospects during All-Star week, framed in a “USA” vs “The World” format.

Fox is presently listed as the Rays’ No.11 prospect with a 50 grade including Hit: 50, Power: 40, Run: 70, Arm: 55 and Field: 55.

He was assigned to the Stone Crabs at the Single A-Advanced level in July.

In 30 games with the club, he hit .235 with a .608 OPS, .350 OBP, one home run, three stolen bases, 12 RBI and 19 runs scored.

The 20-year-old shortstop spent the previous 77 games with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Midwest League at the Single A-Full level. For the Hot Rods, Fox hit a careerbest .278 and ranked third in the Midwest League with 27 stolen bases. He also ranked second on the team with 45 runs scored, collected 27 RBI and totalled a .362 OBP and a .722 OPS with two runs.

In October, Fox was recognised as the organisation’s “Baserunner of the Year” at its minor league awards ceremony for each of its nine affiliates. His 30 stolen bases ranked second among Rays minor leaguers. He was successful on 30 of his 43 attempts (69.7 percent). “Fox is a topflight athlete with plus-plus speed and three more tools that should be at least solid.

A switch-hitter with a linedrive stroke, he has the approach and the wheels to become a leadoff hitter and prolific base stealer. He won’t be a homer threat but he does have some strength and can drive some balls to the gaps,” his MLB scouting report reads.

“Fox’s range, quick hands and arm fit easily at shortstop. Some scouts don’t love his middle-infield actions and think he’ll fit better in centre field, though the Rays, much like the Giants, believe he can stay at short, lauding his ability to learn quickly.”

Fox discussed his future with Brett Phillips of D Rays Bay and gave a timeline for when he expects to make his break into the Major Leagues.

“Two years,” he said.

THE TRIBUNE

Thursday, December 28, 2017, PAGE 17

Dolphins’ Jay Cutler says he’s undecided regarding 2018

By STEVEN WINE Associated Press

DAVIE, Fl (AP) — Even though Jay Cutler says he made a good decision to come out of retirement, he may call it quits again soon.

The 34-year-old Cutler will start in the finale to the Miami Dolphins’ disappointing season Sunday against Buffalo, and he said yesterday he hasn’t decided whether he wants to play a 13th NFL season in 2018.

A return to Miami as a backup seems unlikely.

Cutler delayed the start of a broadcasting career in August to join the Dolphins when quarterback Ryan Tannehill suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Tannehill is expected to return as the starter next season, and Cutler said playing in 2018 likely would appeal to him only if he’s the starter.

“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to move again and go somewhere just to back up. ... A lot of these decisions are out of players’ control.”

Why might he want to return next year?

“I love playing football,” Cutler said. “You can only do it for so long. Everyone has some point in their career that they can’t play anymore. Whether it’s your decision or someone else’s decision, it happens.”

Cutler’s inconsistency this season mirrored the Dolphins’ — and vice versa. He ranks 26th in the NFL in quarterback rating, and 29th in yards per attempt. Miami (6-9) ranks 26th in points and 27th in yards.

Cutler has lived in a hotel during his entire stay in Miami, while his wife and children remained back home in Nashville.

Even so, he’s glad he came back.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “It’s a really good locker room, really good coaches, great organisation, great owner. I had a really good time.”

Not so for coach Adam Gase, who said he anticipates a “horrible” offseason stewing about the many what-ifs of a disappointing season.

The Dolphins were eliminated from the playoff race with a loss Sunday at Kansas City.

Coming off a 10-win season in 2016 that ended an eight-year postseason drought, the Dolphins didn’t make the most of their talent, Gase said.

“I think we all feel that way,” he said. “That’s why the offseason is a horrible experience to go through when you have a situation like this, where you start going back through and start telling yourself,

DOLPHINS QB Jay Cutler (6) warms up before Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

(AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

‘I should have done this.

I should have done this.

Maybe I shouldn’t have called this.’ You have to be extremely hard on yourself so you make sure you don’t make those mistakes again.”

Gase said the collective disappointment is shared by executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum, general manager Chris Grier and owner Stephen Ross.

The Dolphins still haven’t won a postseason game since Ross first bought an ownership stake in 2008.

“He does everything he can to be supportive to us and give us everything we possibly need,” Gase said.

“For me, and I know Mike and Chris feel the same, you feel like you let him down. He’s given us so much, and we have to find a way to be more consistent.”

Cutler will start the finale, said Gase, who hedged only slightly regarding whether he’ll play the entire game.

“We’ll see how the game goes,” Gase said. “Jay hasn’t done anything to come out.

“There’s no reason for him to come out of the game right now.”

Week 17: NAUGHTY’S NFL PICKS THE “Grinch” stole my Cowboys football Christmas, with the playoff stars lined up, we shoot ourselves in both feet.

Typical!

Time for some new coaching in big D. Meanwhile, after a 13-3 week, my son SantxoZ now leads by one game over the “experts.”

If he holds on and to win, “it ga be long.” In fact, I will never hear the end of it, ever!

But I’m proud of him, regardless. Win, lose or draw. Here’s who I like this week: NAUGHTY PATRIOTS LIONS TEXANS VIKINGS REDSKINS COWBOYS STEELERS JAGUARS PANTHERS CHIEFS 49ers BILLS CHARGERS SEAHAWKS SAINTS RAVENS

THE STANDINGS • Here’s how we look going into Week 17: POSITION

LAST WEEK

SEASON

1. Santxo Z 13-3 161-79 2. Naughty 11-5 160-80 4. Leo B 12-4 157-83 3. Clint J 11-5 157-83 6. AP 13-3 154-84 5. Stevie J 9-7 144-96 SANTXO Z PATRIOTS LIONS TEXANS VIKINGS REDSKINS COWBOYS STEELERS JAGS CHIEFS PANTHERS RAMS BILLS CHARGERS SEAHAWKS SAINTS RAVENS LEO B *FALCONS LIONS JAGUARS COLTS BILLS VIKINGS PATRIOTS

REDSKINS COWBOYS STEELERS SAINTS RAVENS CHIEFS 49ERS CHARGERS SEAHAWKS* STEVIE J Washington Redskins New England Patriots Minnesota Vikings Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Pittsburgh Steelers Philadelphia Eagles San Francisco 49ers Los Angeles Chargers Denver Broncos Jacksonville Jaguars New Orleans Saints Buffalo Bills Seattle Seahawks Carolina Panthers Baltimore Ravens

PAGE 18, Thursday, December 28, 2017

THE TRIBUNE

Warriors winning minus Curry, can they lose once he’s back?

By BRIAN MAHONEY Associated Press STEPHEN Curry is sitting, the Warriors aren’t really scoring, and yet Golden State is still winning.

What happens when Curry and the offence come back?

The defending champions went into the season as favourites to repeat, though Boston and Houston looked like title threats while running off lengthy winning streaks and LeBron James has played some of the best basketball in his career.

Yet the Warriors have shaken off the injury to their two-time MVP and a few others to climb right back in their usual spot atop the NBA standings at 27-7. So as the calendar prepares to change, has anything changed since the preseason?

“I still would say, listen, I’ll be absolutely shocked if somebody beats Golden State, but you know, injuries pop up,” ABC/ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said, using Curry’s absence as an example.

“If an injury happens at the wrong time things change, and I think Houston has put themselves in great position, I think San Antonio has withstood the injury to (Kawhi) Leonard better than anyone could have expected, and Cleveland after a terrible start has played terrific basketball.”

Curry has missed nine games with a sprained right ankle and the Warriors said Tuesday he would be re-evaluated Friday. The offence isn’t fully clicking without him, as the Warriors have been held below 100 points three times in the last four games — but they’ve lost only once in his absence.

They have done it by turning themselves into stoppers,

leading the league in defensive rating by allowing 100.8 points per 100 possessions and limiting the Cavaliers to 32 per cent shooting in their NBA Finals rematch on Christmas.

“Well, it helps when you have guys like KD (Kevin Durant) and Draymond (Green) back there to clean up any missed assignments,” All-Star Klay Thompson said. “They’re so good at contesting every shot in the paint, blocking shots.

They play with such great toughness.”

If teams can’t beat the Warriors when they’re shorthanded, it’s hard to imagine anyone doing it when they’re at full strength. But Van Gundy won’t rule out the Rockets, who were wiping out all their opponents until Chris Paul was hurt again after 14 straight victories.

“I think they are an absolute legitimate contender,” Van Gundy said. “I think the Western Conference finals will have the two best teams in it and I think whoever comes out of that will win the championship.”

AND IN THE EAST After Boston followed Cleveland’s loss on Christmas, there was a new team leading the East.

Toronto’s stay was short, as the Raptors lost 98-93 Tuesday in Dallas to fall back behind the Celtics by percentage points. But the Raptors did enough before that to convince at least one rival they belonged in the discussion with the top teams in the conference.

The Raptors had just swept a home-and-home series from Philadelphia, improving to 12-1 in Toronto.

“I said when I left, they just don’t really (get) talked about like they should be talked about,” 76ers coach

Brett Brown said Monday.

“They’ve won 12 out of 13, they’ve got an All-Star backcourt, (Serge) Ibaka is the real deal as a power forward, and you know they’ve been with each other for a while.”

Toronto was dominant during those 13 games, averaging 113.9 points and outscoring teams by an average of 13.6 points. DeMar DeRozan was East player of the week last week after averaging 34 points.

He was limited to eight points on 3-for-16 shooting Tuesday. The Raptors tried to bounce back last night at Oklahoma City — where Russell Westbrook was the West’s player of the week but lost 124-107.

COMING UP THIS WEEK — Houston at Boston, today. The Celtics (16 games) and Rockets (14) had the NBA’s longest winning streaks this season.

— New York at San Antonio, today. Gregg Popovich could tie George Karl for fifth on the wins list with his 1,175th victory.

— Cleveland at Utah, Saturday. LeBron James celebrates his 33rd birthday.

— Lakers at Houston, Sunday. Los Angeles went to Houston last week and stopped the Rockets’ 14-game run behind Kyle Kuzma’s 38 points.

STAT LINE OF THE WEEK Enes Kanter, Knicks: 31 points, 22 rebounds Monday in a 105-98 loss to Philadelphia. Kanter tied his career high in rebounds, fell just short of it in points and joined Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Bob Lanier as the only players with a 30-20 game on Christmas, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

THIS file photo shows Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry limping off the court to the locker room in the second half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Curry is sitting and the Golden State Warriors aren’t really scoring. Yet they’re winning anyway, and if teams can’t beat them when they’re short-handed, can anyone stop them once they’re healthy?

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Manchester City beat Newcastle 1-0 and move 15 points clear in EPL NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Manchester City moved 15 points clear at the top of the English Premier League as it extended its winning run to 18 games at Newcastle yesterday.

Raheem Sterling’s 31stminute strike was all the leaders had to show for a dominant display in front of a crowd of 52,311 at St James’ Park.

The Magpies’ ultraconservative approach frustrated them despite their wealth of possession.

But ultimately the 1-0 win was enough on a night when Rafael Benitez’s men slipped to a fifth consecutive home defeat for the first time since 1953.

“I’m happy with a lot of clean sheets,” City manager Pep Guardiola said.

“Today we have started the second round (half of the season) - 18 games left. We’re going to see how many we need to be champion.”

It might have been worse for Newcastle had referee Andre Marriner taken a dimmer view of Jacob Murphy’s first-half challenge on Ilkay Gundogan.

Of the incident, Guardiola said: “Everybody is focusing on diving but the referees have to follow the rules and try to take care of the players, so they feel safe.”

Newcastle’s game-plan was predictably cautious as all 11 men not only got behind the ball, but within 35 yards of their own goal for much of the first half.

They challenged City to break them down, which they almost did when Sergio Aguero stabbed Fernandinho’s seventh-minute cross against the post.

An early injury to City skipper Vincent Kompany simply prompted Pep Guardiola to replace his central defender with striker Gabriel Jesus.

MANCHESTER City’s Ilkay Gundogan, left, and Newcastle United’s Mikel Merino battle for the ball at St James’ Park, Newcastle, England, yesterday.

(Owen Humphreys/PA via AP) For all of City’s utter domination of possession, it was hardly able to stretch the hosts decisively, although goalkeeper Rob Elliot had to claw away Aguero’s 17th-minute header and then come off his line to block Jesus’ effort at point-blank range.

The deadlock was broken when Sterling ran on to Kevin de Bruyne’s return pass and scuffed the ball past the keeper with the studs of his left boot.

Newcastle might have been back in it had defender Nicolas Otamendi not cleared Rolando Aaron’s chipped effort off the line 10 minutes before the break.

There was no change in the pattern of the game after halftime.

City came close but the massed ranks of black and white continued to scrap.

De Bruyne struck a post and defender Jamaal Lascelles headed just wide of his own goal with Elliot stranded as City went for the kill.

“It was a question of staying in the game until the end,” Benitez said, “and I was really pleased with the team in terms of organisation and workrate but disappointed because we could have been better on the ball in the first half. I was pleased with our reaction in the second half.”