City on brink of title - Times LIVE

Manchester City are on the verge of winning the English Premier League title for the first time in 44 years after Yaya Toure's brilliant double clinched a crucial 2-0 win at Newcastle yesterday.

Ivory Coast midfielder Toure struck twice in the second half at St James' Park and Roberto Mancini's men now know that they will be champions for the first time since 1968 if they win their remaining game at home to struggling Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, unless United can bridge City's plus-8advantage over their local rivals in the goal difference column.

By coincidence, City's 1968 title triumph was confirmed by a 4-3 victory at Newcastle and the reaction of their supporters on the final whistle suggested they have already anointed Mancini's team as the new champions.

Toure's goals also had significance for Newcastle, who began this game with an eye on a place in next season's European Champions League - and even a top-three finish - in the wake of Arsenal's failure to beat Norwich.

Now, facing an awkward final game at Everton, Newcastle might have to be content with a place in the Europa League.

City certainly deserved their success, but they were far from fluent as Newcastle frustrated them for long periods and looked likely to emerge with a point until Toure's crucial contributions.

Tevez steered a shot straight at Newcastle goalie Tim Krul in the 55th minute, but Newcastle were otherwise untroubled, prompting action by Mancini, who withdrew Nasri and Tevez.

And, only seconds after the departure of Tevez in the 70th minute, Mancini's team were ahead when Toure steered his shot inside the post from nearly 25m following neat approach play from City.

Toure was deprived of a second goal when he slipped after going clear in the 75th minute, but he grabbed the clincher with a close-range strike in the 89th minute after good work by Gael Clichy.

First-half goals from Paul Scholes and Ashley Young saw Sir Alex Ferguson's side draw level on points with City at the top of the table in the match against Swansea, but despite creating several chances the team could not improve its goal difference and only won 2-0.

To end the campaign, Manchester United travel to Sunderland, who have not beaten them in the league for 15 years, spanning 19 attempts. However, City will be overwhelming favourites to beat a relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers side, which has won just three times on the road this season.

The Premier League title has never yet been decided on goal difference, but there is every chance this season that it will be.