Manchester City began their Premier League campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Newcastle United this evening.
The hosts were ahead inside six minutes through David Silva before Sergio Aguero accurately doubled the lead.
Before half time Newcastle were reduced to 10 men when Steven Taylor took an angry, careless swipe at Aguero.
From then on, City continued to dominate and added to their total with goals from Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri in the second 45.
Here, Sports Mole dissects an easy-peasy opening night for the 2012 champions under new manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Match statistics:
City:
Shots 20
On target 11
Possession 63%
Corners 8
Fouls 9
Newcastle:
Shots 5
On target 1
Possession 37%
Corners 1
Fouls 8
Was the result fair?
What a silly question. City were on top right from the off and Newcastle made it ever so easy for them.
City's performance
Pellegrini will be delighted with the display of his men. The new signings Jesus Navas and Fernandinho looked comfortable on their full debuts while Edin Dzeko and Aguero were ever so menacing. One concerning element for Pellegrini will be that captain Vincent Kompany came off injured. The centre of defence is perhaps City's most undermanned area and they may have to dip into the transfer market again.
Newcastle's performance
A trip to City is perhaps the hardest opening-day draw that Newcastle could have got but they didn't turn up at all and were let down by Taylor's stupidity. Tim Krul was brilliant in goal and the only reason that City didn't score at least three more, while out on the pitch Hatem Ben Arfa showed sparks of talent. Plenty for Alan Pardew to ponder.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Edin Dzeko: The Bosnian may not have scored tonight but he did brilliantly. It's been said that he is enjoying life under Pellegrini much more and his all-action display is likely to warrant an extended run in the team.
Biggest gaffe
Clear winner here. Taylor's completely unnecessary clothes-line ended any faint hope that the visitors had of getting back in the game and he'll now be out for the next three matches.
Referee performance
Even though he had a lot to do, Andre Marriner will have felt that tonight's game was an easy one to referee. Newcastle made stupid decisions and gave him no option to book and send them off. He should have given City a penalty when Mathieu Debuchy bundled into Toure but City won't be complaining.
What next?
City: Next up for City is a trip to newly-promoted Cardiff on Sunday afternoon.
Newcastle: The Magpies will be hoping to bounce back when they welcome West Ham on Saturday.
Pascal Lemesre
