NEWCASTLE UTD 0 MAN CITY 2
NEWCASTLE
1. Tim Krul
22. Daryl Janmaat
6. Mike Williamson
2. Fabricio Coloccini
36. Paul Dummett
14. Jack Colback
8. Vurnon Anita 63'
20. Remy Cabella
7. Moussa Sissoko
11. Yoan Gouffran 74'
29. Emmanuel Riviere 83'
Subs
16. Rolando Aarons 74'
17. Ayoze Perez 83'
19. Massadio Haidara
21. Rob Elliot
25. Gabriel Obertan 63'
27. Steven Taylor
30. Mehdi Abeid
MAN CITY
j
1. Joe Hart
22. Gael Clichy
4. Vincent Kompany
26. Martin Demichelis
11. Aleksandar Kolarov
8. Samir Nasri 78'
6. Fernando
42. Yaya Toure
21. David Silva
10. Edin Dzeko 83'
35. Stevan Jovetic 73'
Subs
5. Pablo Zabaleta
7. James Milner 78'
13. Willy Caballero
15. Jesus Navas
16. Sergio Aguero 83'
25. Fernandinho 73'
38. Dedryck Boyata
The start of a new campaign and high hopes, but Sergio Aguero came off the bench late in the game to score as Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City won 2-0 at Newcastle.
City were leading 1-0 when the Argentina international struck in stoppage time to end the home side's hopes.
Sergio Aguero
David Silva had fired the visitors into a 38th-minute lead, making the most of Edin Dzeko's clever back-heel, and Manuel Pellegrini's men will feel they were good value for the points after creating the better chances, although the result remained in doubt until Aguero struck.
As for Newcastle, there was effort and the odd spark, although the stats sho they didn't have one shot on target.
The new boys impressed, especially Remy Cabella, who must have covered more ground than any player on the pitch, but (for me) Fabricio Coloccini was the star of the show.
OK Aguero stripped him for pace in the dying moments for the winning goal, but he stood like a rock throughout the earlier 90 minutes.
Newcastle's movement and passing were characteristically impressive - their finishing less so - although United were unable to work City goalkeeper Joe Hart to any real extent despite enjoying their fair share of possession in front of a crowd of 50,816 at St James' Park.
Jack Colback was impressive on his debut, while lone striker Emmanuel Riviere showed flashes of his talent before fading as he found himself locked in a physical battle with Vincent Kompany.
But while there were positives for Newcastle manager Alan Pardew and appreciative applause from the home fans on the whistle, it was Pellegrini and his club's followers who were wearing the smiles.
Captains Fabricio Coloccini and Kompany, along with former Sunderland goalkeeper Jimmy Montgomery, laid wreaths on the centre circle before the match as they were joined by relatives of Newcastle fans John Alder and Liam Sweeney, who died on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
City took control of the match from the off and might have established a commanding lead within the opening 11 minutes.
Goalkeeper Tim Krul had to be at his most alert to keep out Dzeko's close-range second-minute effort after Steven Jovetic had played him in over the top with a delicately lofted pass, and the Dutchman was in action once again nine minutes later.
Samir Nasri and Aleksandar Kolarov played a long-range one-two before the Frenchman teed himself up to unleash a rasping drive which Krul had to dive full-length to turn away.
But as they warmed to their task, the Magpies started to make an impact.
Coloccini and central defensive partner Mike Williamson managed to get to grips with Dzeko and Jovetic to allow the men in front of them to prosper, although, while there were flashes from Cabella and Riviere and a series of surging runs from Moussa Sissoko, there was little of note to trouble Hart.
Cabella drifted a chipped 16th-minute effort over Hart's crossbar and Riviere, who produced plenty of effort, but slightly less composure, scuffed wide from distance and blazed across goal when he might have done better.
At the other end, Williamson denied Jovetic with a perfectly timed block, but the respite was temporary and City took the lead with seven minutes of the half remaining.
Coloccini and Williamson were both drawn to Dzeko as he chased down a long ball, and both were left stranded when he cleverly back-heeled it between them for Silva to exploit the space and fire left-footed past Krul.
Newcastle responded in determined fashion immediately after the restart with Yoan Gouffran seeing two shots blocked in quick succession after Colback's 50th-minute corner reached him beyond the far post, and Cabella scooped over under pressure from Sissoko's pass.
Full-back Paul Dummett headed over after reaching Colback's corner ahead of Hart, but it took a good block by Coloccini to prevent Jovetic from extending the visitors' lead on the hour.
Dzeko headed onto the roof of Krul's net 25 minutes from time and Yaya Toure, who endured one of his quieter afternoons, floated a free-kick just over eight minutes later.
There was contrast to the introduction of the subs - City's James Milner was applauded onto the field by Toon fans because of his bright stay at St James' Park in his earlier career ... but Obertan was booed!
The Magpies threw caution to the wind as time ran down and substitute Ayoze Perez saw a shot deflected just wide of the far post before Sissoko blazed wastefully over.
But substitute Aguero wrapped up the win in stoppage time when, after Krul had blocked his initial effort, he stabbed the rebound home from close range.