City make statement of intent for season ahead

By Derin Odueyungbo

Manchester City - 4 Newcastle United - 0

Manchester City opened their Premier League account with an impressive 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle.

First half goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero effectively shaped the outcome of the game, with Yaya Toure and Nasri completing the job in the second half. Perhaps, the only negative for City, was the injury to captain - Vincent Kompany.

Steven Taylor’s red card shortly after half time gave his team no chance of coming back into the game. The Newcastle defender clumsily struck Aguero across the face while challenging for an aerial ball.

Newcastle before the game were already fighting an uphill battle, being without their midfield ace - Yohan Cabaye. Alan Pardew’s decision to leave the Frenchman out of the team was linked with Arsenal’s bid before the game.

The away team began the game on the back foot, struggling to cope with Zabaletta and new signing Jesus Navas down the right hand side. Zabaletta may have left his team exposed with his tireless overlapping runs but Newcastle constantly giving the ball away meant that they could not capitalise.

After David Silva headed City 1-0 up, Newcastle failed to respond, looking like the under par-team from last season’s relegation battle rather than a team ready for the new season.

At 1-0, Manchester City could have and should have been given a penalty when Debuchy tripped Toure in the box. A penalty was not given. This hardly mattered as 10 minutes later Aguero made it 2-0 with a neat finish, struck across Tim Krul into the far corner of the Newcastle goal.

Newcastle did manage to test Joe Hart just before half time, as Tiote’s 30 yard drive was well held by the England number one. Apart from this, Newcastle struggled to find a way frough the heart of Manchester City’s defence.

The second half consisted of much of the same in the first half for Newcastle. Pardew’s men too many times were caught in possession and were not switched on.

You’d have been hard pressed to find a pundit tipping Newcastle to cause an opening day upset. City were solid at the back, impressive passing football and started the game quickly, which left Manuel Pellegrini delighted with his team’s return to Premier League action.