Manchester City 4 Newcastle United 0: Presumably, Manuel Pellegrini knows it will not always be this straightforward and that he cannot rely on Manchester City coming up against teams as hopelessly out of their depth as this every week. Newcastle United were certainly obliging opponents for Pellegrini's first match and they suffered badly against a team that attacked from every angle.
It was a wonderful display from City: fluent, slick, pass-them-to-death football, brimming with confidence and a collective desire to get the Pellegrini era off with a bang. Equally, it is not entirely easy to use a game this one-sided as an accurate barometer when their opponents were so abysmal.
Newcastle should just be grateful that City restricted themselves to two first-half goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero, then another two after the break from Yaya Toure and the substitute Samir Nasri. As bad as it was, 4-0 does not really do justice to the pummelling they had to endure.
Alan Pardew also lost Jonas Gutierrez to injury and there was a touch of ignominy thrown in for good measure in the form of the forearm chop that Steven Taylor served on Aguero to get a straight red card in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Moments earlier, Taylor had been fortunate to escape giving away a penalty after an Aguero shot struck his arm. The two players were still disputing it when a high ball came their way and Taylor swung his left arm.
Attacking qualities
Pellegrini had promised vibrant, attacking football and his team played as though impatient they had been made to wait until after the weekend. The new manager had two holding midfielders, Yaya Toure and Fernandinho, who are both better known for their attacking qualities.
Ahead of them there were two wide players, Jesus Navas and Silva, interchanging positions, and Aguero accompanying Edin Dzeko in attack. Roberto Mancini’s teams could be devastating going forwards sometimes but this forward six is brimming with even more adventure.
At one point Vincent Kompany found himself, as the last man, under pressure from Yoan Gouffran. The City captain simply rolled the ball under his own foot and nonchalantly went on his way.
Kompany would later play a stunning part in the Aguero goal, outmuscling Papiss Cisse inside his own half, then striding forwards to turn defence into attack. Dzeko flicked on the pass and suddenly Aguero was running through the inside-right channel, expertly picking his spot to score off the inside of the post.
Newcastle were already looking mightily dishevelled. Pardew could barely disguise his anger as he explained why Yohan Cabaye had been left out “for the good of the team” and as a direct consequence of Arsenal’s unsuccessful €12m bid. Newcastle are entitled to be irritated by the timing of the offer, but the night’s sub-plot should not excuse how brittle and naive they were at times.
Tim Krul had already made a splendid save to keep out Aguero, and Dzeko had put another effort narrowly wide, before the early bombardment conjured up the opening goal. Dzeko was prominently involved again, taking Silva’s pass and then turning past the right-back, Mathieu Debuchy, far too easily.
His cross ricocheted off Taylor and the deflection left Krul hopelessly exposed and Silva with a gaping goal into which to aim his header. Hardly renowned for his heading ability, the Spaniard neatly picked his spot.
More grievous
The damage could have been even more grievous for Newcastle if the referee, Andre Marriner, had punished Debuchy's risky challenge on Toure inside the penalty area. Add that to the one Taylor got away with and this could have been a confirmed thrashing even before Pardew's men had tasted their half-time oranges. As it was, the only criticism of the home team was their first-half dominance resulted merely in one more goal.
Pardew responded to Taylor’s red card by taking off Gouffran and bringing on Paul Dummett, a 21-year-old defender. The game had become an exercise in damage limitation but the pressure was just as unremitting after the break as it had been before. Krul saved brilliantly from Dzeko, who will wonder how he went the night without scoring, but another goal was inevitable.
After 50 minutes, Debuchy brought down Aguero on the edge of the penalty area and Toure’s free-kick was curled beautifully around the wall and into the top corner.
The fourth goal was the softest of the lot. Pablo Zabaleta’s pass was directed towards Dzeko but eluded him and simply rolled through the middle of the Newcastle defence. Debuchy’s attempt to cut out the danger was verging on pathetic and Nasri ran clear to roll his shot past Krul.
Four-nil – with Alvaro Negredo, one of City's expensive summer recruits, playing only 10 minutes and Stevan Jovetic missing because of a minor injury. Pellegrini could hardly have imagined a better start to his Premier career.
Guardian Service
