Half-Time Report: Manchester City in control at the Etihad

Manchester City have cruised into a two-goal lead at half time of their opening Premier League match against Newcastle United this evening.

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The hosts almost made a perfect start to the match when Sergio Aguero had a chance after just two minutes, but he was denied by a fine Tim Krul stop.

Krul was called into action again shortly afterwards when Pablo Zabaleta cut the ball back to Edin Dzeko, whose goalbound shot was tipped wide by the Dutchman.

City were not to be denied in the opening stages, however, and took the lead in the sixth minute when David Silva nodded a loose ball into the net after a Dzeko cross.

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Dzeko was involved again for the hosts' next chance, running at Steven Taylor having been released by a Fernandinho tackle, but the Bosnian dragged his shot wide.

City did double their lead just two minutes later, however, when Dzeko flicked the ball into the path of Aguero, who took it past Taylor before drilling a shot in off the post.

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Jesus Navas came close to a debut goal 10 minutes before the break when his free kick skipped all the way through a mass of bodies in the area and whistled just past the post.

Things went from bad to worse for Newcastle right on the stroke of half time as Taylor was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Aguero.