The Costa Rican striker, so often an enigmatic presence in the Blues squad, finally produced when it mattered, rising highest to guide Nicolas Anelka's cross past Shay Given to give City only their third win in 25 league games.
It was Wanchope's third goal of the campaign and the Blues' fourth win on home soil but the only statistic that really matters is that Leeds now require seven points from their remaining three games - including a last-day trip to Chelsea - to have a chance of clambering to safety.
Given recent events, the task looks an impossible one which means that Kevin Keegan will have another chance to sort his sorry bunch of under-performers into the top flight force he believes them to be.
City have now defeated three of the top six on home soil and drawn with Liverpool, so as they made their way to the exits, the jubilant and loyal Blues support must be wondering how they ended up in such trouble in the first place.
As for Newcastle, shorn of half a dozen key men, their Champions League dream now rests in Sir Bobby Robson's ability to raise spirits amongst a squad whose energy levels look non-existent.
Certainly on this evidence, there will be few Magpies flying to France with any degree of optimism for Thursday's UEFA Cup semi-final return with Marseille.
Yet if Wanchope was the eventual hero for the hosts, David James will gain a well deserved pat on the back from Kevin Keegan tonight as well.
Having suffered the trauma of relegation only 12 months ago with a West Ham side who had long been given that most unfortunate of tags `too good to go down' James was clearly in no mood to endure a similar fate this season.
Without the England `keeper's recent penalty saves against Wolves and Leicester, cash-strapped City would be in a terrible state and they did not have to wait long for another reason to offer thanks for James' presence in their goal.
Only 48 seconds were on the clock when Laurent Robert lined up a 30-yard free-kick after Richard Dunne had dumped Alan Shearer on his backside.
Returning centre-half Titus Bramble anticipated the fizzing shot and, having advanced beyond the home defence, touched it towards the corner, only for James to turn it round the post with a brilliant low one-handed save.
Even with so many injuries, the Magpies dominated the opening stages and it took City 10 minutes just to get out of their own half.
For all the footballing philosophies espoused by both managers, it was pure route one which fashioned the Magpies' second great chance, Shearer flicking on Shay Given's deep clearance, straight into the path of Shola Ameobi.
The England Under-21 international had Sylvain Distin at his back but still managed to get power into his shot, only for James to keep it out with a brave block.
James produced another good stop to deny Ambrose, who exchanged passes with Ameobi as Newcastle broke quickly.
By then though, Given had also proved his worth, turning away Dunne's blistering header from Michael Tarnat's corner.
While that turned out to be City's only effort on goal during the opening 45 minutes, their efforts were far improved on those produced in the recent home games with Wolves and Southampton, a fact acknowledged by the home fans, who offered warm support as they left the field.
Encouraged by the sweat produced in the opening stages of the second period, the long-suffering Blues faithful lifted the decibel level even higher and if there had been a roof on their Eastlands home, it would have come off as they celebrated Wanchope's all-important opener.
Sun Jihai had been given a torrid afternoon by Robert but the Chinese international showed impressive speed of thought to transfer the ball up field when Darren Ambrose lost possession inside the visitors' half.
Hugging the right touchline, Anelka finally showed some spark, cutting inside Bramble, then delivering the cross which O'Brien missed but, thankfully for the hosts, Wanchope did not as he guided his header past Given.
With a full strength squad, Newcastle would have fancied their chances of pulling the deficit back.
But with Kieron Dyer, Jermaine Jenas, Jonathan Woodgate, Andy Griffin, Craig Bellamy and Lee Bowyer consigned to the stands, they had neither the energy nor personnel to fight back.
Indeed, had it not been for Given, the damage could have been even worse as the Republic of Ireland `keeper produced fine late saves to deny Paul Bosvelt and Wanchope. Tweet
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well done! you battled well
Well it's 1-30 in the morning and i'm off to bed a happy man. The game was nerve wracking to watch, but worth it in the end.Well done blues, hope bolton do it on sunday for us. thought dunne and SWP and james were outstanding.
city are down there because although we've taken the points from the top 6 teams we've not taken them off the teams around us. Leicester=1 point, wolves=1 point, Leeds=1 point, portsmouth=1 point. they're the points that count double in our position.
Thanks lads--a wonderful fighting display,only surpassed by the fantastic supporters who from the first minute of the game roared the team on making it clear to everyone that we refuse to be relegated.
Kevin Keegan got this one right.
KK made the right decisions to WIN!
Kevin Keegan is CITY,s manager now get off his back.
Come on you BLUES!
Awful display! the gulf between Newcatle and City in terms of quality is enourmous - if it wasn't for James we would have lost - if Newcastle had of scored one then teh floodgates would have opened - James has been immense again! The team is a complete mess - we deserve to be in a relegation scrap next season unless we rip this team to pieces in the summer! I am over the moon that we won it but i cannot see us giving that level of effort next season - it will be back to losing ways and a tense end to the season - Top six? KK has failed miserably, Absolutley miserably!! we have took ten steps back this season - the reasons are Seamen, Sinclair, Reyna, Sib, Macca, Bosvelt, Tarnat - Bad buys! Fowler - Dire!
Today.s WIN was a combination of Kevin Keegan, the players, and the twelth man,
Manchester CITY Fans.
Yipppeeee!
Come on you BLUES!
Phew!! About time. Good win and a much needed 3 pts. Barton was quality- to think KK wanted old heads like Bosvelt. SWP ran his socks of. A few glimpses of a possible partnership between Anelka and the chop. Still need an inquest at the end of the season. players will have to leave and KK too. I would like to see Ian Dowie given a chance. Sun Jihai was a player I watcher closely during the game and I accept he tries and is honest BUT he lacks premiership quality, 3 times a newscastle player went past him as if he wasnt there, and if shearer had a dfferent day it could have been different. His marking and positional play is awful and I could go on but we did win and look like being safe. So KK and Sun Jihai out. NExt season here we come. CTID
Man of the Match - without doubt David James. His recent performances have been first class. His determination and leadership qualities are there for all to see. Make him captain for next season!
Watched the game on TV here in Vancouver and what a relief.I thought Dunne was huge today and played his best ever game.James too was immense.We have to keep hold of SWP when the season ends. In the next 2-3 years he will be a major figure in the game. Hopefully now we are safe ( & we are ) there will be no more talk of him leaving.We need a clear out and I think KK will do that.Grateful as we are to PW for his goal, it is a cruel thing to say but I don't think he should stay.Players to go IMHO should be PW,NA, TS,SM,PB,SD & MT.The savings on those wages should bring in some better players, preferably more Brits who will show more passion.I hope KK stays as he will have learned from this year. He has to change his back room staff though.What a relief to know we are in the prem next year.Leeds need 3 wins if we get just one point from two games...YIPPEE
Blue Moon, Vancouver.
Everybody gave 100% today. You can argue against a players ability, but nobody today hid or failed to committ to the cause. Everyone was a hero today.
"Superbia in Proelio"
Thats what the badge says.
"Pride in Battle"
Everyone of our Blue shirted hero's was a giant today.
It's difficult and possibly not right to single any individual for extra praise, but Richard Dunne was,in an ancient quote,
"Superbia in Proelia"
Well done,the Giants on the pitch and also well done everyone of the 47000 Blue hearted
hero's gargling with some tincture tonight.
The worst is over.New season on the way.
CTID
Great stuff, always said we'd do it. I reckon we are safe now. But next season it is time for the board to get their hands in their pockets. We`should buy Henry and Bergkamp from Arsenal, and maybe a couple of classy defenders like Stam and Campbell.
The lads gave it their all today. Hopefully Keegan will not tinker with this team. Instead, injuries permitting, he should start with the same 11 for the last 2 games. Has amyone else noticed that the spirit seems better without Macca and Fowler?
Typically nervous start, where we rode our luck, but the crowd today were fantastic, vocally behind the lads all the way, I really felt mid way thru the 2nd half that we were going to hold on, what a difference in atmosphere which i thought really lifted the team towards the end....
Nice goal Paulo. He looks ok with Anelka. But we were playing Half a team and James had to perform well. 'Come on Bolton'. CTID.
The tension was just too much to bear. I had to get my son to watch the BBC text and relay the action to me.
CTID and am resurrected , without any finger nails at all.
BIG RELIEF! And even if Leeds win, I think in the end we'll be safe. Glad when this season is over with hopefully 9 pooints out of the last 3 games to give us fans that bit of extra to look foreward to in the summer.
Thank God!
I hope we can win the next game and finish this agonising wait.
Great result, great goal and great performance from all the lads. The atmosphere was awesome as well, hopefully that means well still be in the premiership next season.
What an excellent weekend! The performance on saturday was superb especially in the 2nd half after a few nervous moments early in the 1st. Everyone played their part, least of all David James who made some crucial stops. It was fitting that Paulo's 1st goal at the COMS should decide the game and ultimately secure our safety. His partnership with Anelka appears to be blossoming, sadly too late this season to reap any real rewards. At least now the pressure is off and we can enjoy the last 2 matches before the summer inquisition begins! Why has this expensively assembled squad failed to deliver and provide us with a top 8 finish when the likes of Bolton (cheers to them), Fulham and Charlton can reach the dizzy heights we crave? I'm sure many fans will have their own opinions but I will wait to see what Keegan makes of it all and how he and his team respond next term. Before the likes of Lavinda start trying to tell us that he should walk, I personally don't think sacking him will do us any good at the moment. He got us promoted in style and achieved 9th last year so should be given the benefit of the doubt for now and allowed another chance to prove he can produce a team we can be proud of at this level!
Many want Paulo to leave because he is no good? I think he is a great player and gives 100% in the pitch. He has been injured a lot lately and is finally getting back to his old days. City need to keep him or another team is going to pick him up and then flourish someplace else! BTW, SWP is City and KK needs to keep him at all costs!
Maybe you're right Sanks. Maybe KK deserves to see it through. The thing that worries me though is, reading an article in the guardian, he was quoted as saying "There will have to be changes in the summer, but no major changes". This team is in dire need of quality - leadership and organisation in defence, creativity and mobility in midfield. Unless there are major changes in playing and non-playing, we will be in the same position next season. I agree totally we a previous comment - we need a centre-half (hopefully DVB), two fullbacks, a left-sided and a creative central-midfielder. How do you do that with no money though?
In hindsight it was a master stroke for the Independant Supporters Asociation to hand those leaflets out before the match because that was by far the best atmosphere at the COMS so far...it fair made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up...the challenge now is to do it against teams like Charlton and Southampton
Well congratulations are in order lads,premier survival, you`ve proved everybody wrong but just by the skin of your teeth!! Suppose two more derbies good news for everyone,but you`ve the fight of your life to survive the drop next year.With Big Moody,DVB and SWP bound to leave and without the financial resourses to replace them next year is going to be another bleak year.