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Benitez set out his stall to defend as the runaway Premier League leaders came to town.
But it was to no avail as Pep Guardiola’s side took another step towards the title with a 1-0 win at St James’ Park.
Newcastle offered little going forward in the first-half and were happy to invite pressure from their visitors.
And Neville was not impressed.
Speaking on commentary for Sky Sports, he said: “Containment is the right way to look at it because you’re going to have a lot of time without the ball.
Alan Shearer’s Premier League team of the year for 2017
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“ I don’t think we should just sit and accept that first 30 minutes. No ambition from Newcastle. That’s not acceptable in this league”
Gary Neville on Newcastle vs Man City
“But I also don’t think we should just sit and accept that first 30 minutes.
“No ambition from Newcastle. That’s not acceptable in this league.
“It’s difficult of course from Rafa Benitez’s point of view.”
City won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Raheem Sterling.
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Neville eulogised about the England man’s combination with Kevin de Bruyne for the strike.
"First, I'm going to admire this brilliant pass and finish,” he said.
“Sterling starts it with the one-two but the pass from De Bruyne is absolutely brilliant.
“The finish, Sterling watches it come over the defender, and he hits it off balance - it's something he never could have done two years ago.
"He makes this Newcastle tactic look embarrassing. It has to change. There's defending, and there's showing absolutely no ambition whatsoever.
“If it were a boxing match, the referee would have stopped it.
“Hopefully it will spark them into life, to give them something to watch."