By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At St. James' Park

 

 

Newcastle United 0

Manchester City 2 (Silva 38, Aguero 90)

Newcastle United suffered a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City in their first game of the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season.

The Magpies matched the champions for long spells at St. James' Park but David Silva's first half strike edged the visitors in front.

It was a hugely-encouraging display from Alan Pardew's new-look side, who went close through Remy Cabella, Emmanuel Riviere, Paul Dummett, Ayoze Perez and Moussa Sissoko.

But United were unable to convert any of their chances and were made to pay late on as City substitute Sergio Aguero put the result beyond any doubt in stoppage time. 

City created the first chance of the game inside the opening four minutes, but Tim Krul stood up well to thwart Edin Dzeko from point-blank range after the front man had been freed by Stevan Jovetic's chip.

Soon after, Krul had to be at his best again, this time springing full-length to his left to beat away a long-range Samir Nasri strike which concluded a fine, passing move.

The Magpies took 16 minutes for their maiden opening of the afternoon, and it fell Remy Cabella's way. Having exchanged passes with Moussa Sissoko, the French international attempted a cheeky lob from the edge of the area, which was narrowly off target.

After a tough opening few battles with Vincent Kompany, in which he was given a less-than-warm welcome to the Barclays Premier League, Riviere suddenly imposed himself on the contest.

First, a piece of briliant control and skill to turn out of a crowd of three defenders on the halfway line ended with an ambitious and wayward long-range shot.

And then, having been played in by an outstanding Cabella reverse pass, the former Monaco man screwed one wide at the near post.

For all United's endeavour, it was who City broke the dealock seven minutes before half-time.

Yaya Toure sent a long ball forward into the path of Dzeko, who took out Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson with an outstanding piece of control and then an even better backheel into the path of Silva.

The Spaniard had timed his run to perfection and took a touch before firing the champions ahead.

As the second half got underway, United could have been back on level terms almost immediately.

First, Gouffran had three bites of the cherry to scramble home a Jack Colback corner, but was unable to beat Joe Hart, before Cabella scooped Sissoko's pass high over the bar under pressure.

The hosts continued to apply pressure and on 58 minutes Dummett rose above Hart to meet Colback's inswinging free-kick but couldn't keep his header down.

Gabriel Obertan was introduced from the substitutes' bench just past the hour mark, shortly followed by teenage winger Rolando Aarons for his first team debut.

At the other end, Dzeko nodded inches over, while Toure curled a 20-yard free-kick onto the roof of the net rather than the back of it.

United's third sub came in the shape of 21-year-old debutant Perez, and the little Spaniard almost had an immediate impact.

Perez had been on the pitch less than 30 seconds when Cabella hoisted the ball into space for the striker to chase. He turned Martin Demichelis inside-out before seeing his strike deflected agonisingly wide.

With the game entering stoppage time, Sissoko blazed over from the edge of the area, and City duly went down the pitch and doubled their advantage.

Substitute Aguero got in down the left and although his initial near-post effort was saved by Krul, the Argentine latched onto the loose ball to tuck a neat finish into the far corner.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Daryl Janmaat, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett; Vurnon Anita (Gabriel Obertan 63), Jack Colback; Moussa Sissoko, Remy Cabella, Yoan Gouffran (Rolando Aarons 74); Emmanuel Riviere (Ayoze Perez 83)

 

Subs not used: Rob Elliot, Massadio Haidara, Steven Taylor, Mehdi Abeid

 

 

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Gael Clichy, Vincent Kompany (c), Martin Demichelis, Aleksandar Kolarov; Fernando, Yaya Toure; David Silva, Stevan Jovetic (Fernandinho 72), Samir Nasr (James Milner 78); Edin Dzeko (Sergio Aguero 82)

Subs not used: Willy Caballero, Dedryck Boyata, Pablo Zabaleta, Jesus Navas

 

 

Referee: Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire)

Bookings: Newcastle - Janmaat (77); Manchester City - Silva (34), Demichelis (54), Kolarov (57), Kompany (75), Fernando (88)

Attendance: 50,816 (3,150 Manchester City)