Around 90 minutes before kick-off, Manchester City's regal royal blue bus pulled up outside the Vitality Stadium. As the coach disgorged its cargo of superstars, the fans gathered by the main entrance stared at the photographs of all City's gleaming golden trophies that were emblazoned on the side.
Many believed that was the only glimpse of a prize City fans were going to get this season. In this year of their defrocking, they are already out of the Champions League, the Premier League title is out of reach and Newcastle won the Carabao Cup.