Manchester City vs Newcastle United match report: David Silva shines as champions stroll to comfortable win over poor Magpies

Manchester City 5 Newcastle 0

(Getty)

Two points gained on Chelsea, a goal difference disadvantage cut from 8 to 3, a first clean sheet since before Christmas, Edin Dzeko’s first league goal since September, Wilfried Bony introduced and Yaya Touré returned – oh, and Manchester United losing – days do not get much better than this for the followers of Manchester City.

“That’s why we’re Champions,” they sang as Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Samir Nasri orchestrated a stylish demolition of a Newcastle United team devoid of personality or purpose.

As a club, Newcastle have been hollowed out under the ownership of Mike Ashley and this is what you get. Gifting City a penalty after less than 30 seconds, Newcastle rolled over as Aguero, Nasri and Dzeko made it 3-0 by the 26th minute.

Silva added a brace quickly after half-time, allowing Manuel Pellegrini to give Bony 30 minutes. But for Tim Krul, Bony would have had a debut goal. Bony’s miss hardly dampened the mood as City prepare to host Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday. That might be a bit harder.

Even before kick-off City’s day had been a good one. The final score from Stamford Bridge meant that Chelsea’s lead could be eaten into with victory, while from farther afield, there was surprisingly promising news from Catalonia, where Barcelona – with Messi, Neymar and Suarez up front – lost 1-0 at home to Malaga.

And immediately things got better. Newcastle’s minimum requirement was to make this a contest, yet after 28 seconds Vurnon Anita spilled a short pass from Mike Williamson, Dzeko nipped in to take the ball, Anita tripped him and referee Foy pointed to the spot. It was a dismal opening from the visitors. By the time Aguero stepped up to convert with ease, we were into the second minute.

David Silva was in fine form (Getty)

This was an ominously poor start from the visitors and it soon got worse. With City buzzing around and Newcastle looking deflated, only 10 minutes later Nasri made his way into the area seeking to give Dzeko an outlet.

Via a deflection, Dzeko found him and with Fabricio Coloccini and Massimo Haidara offering little resistance, from six yards Nasri picked his spot and left Tim Krul helpless.

The points were already City’s. Just to make sure of that, on 26 minutes, Dzeko added a third. This was the pick – so far – Silva finding Dzeko with a skimmed 30-yard pass over Coloccini and on to Dzeko’s chest. His control was instant, the ball dropping perfectly on to his left foot. A snapped half-volley was guided past Krul into the top corner.

The rest of the first half passed like a training session. Newcastle made the odd foray into City’s half but 4-0 was a more likely development than 3-1. Dzeko had a decent claim for a penalty when held by Haidara.

Wilfried Bony came off the bench to make his City debut (Getty)

At least Newcastle began the second half sharper than the first. Virtually from the re-start Moussa Sissoko got closer to Papiss Cissé than he had previously and delivered a cross-field pass that at last gave Cissé something to ponder. Cissé did more than that, he thumped a volley which deflected off Vincent Kompany and forced Joe Hart into his first action. It was a strong save. It was not a prelude to a recovery – sadly for the thousands of Geordies paying £44 a ticket.

Instead in the 51st minute Aguero took possession 15 yards into his own half. When he passed the ball to Nasri, Aguero was on the edge of Newcastle’s box. Nasri fed Silva, whose immaculate footwork – under no pressure – created room for him the slide a shot beyond Krul.

Two minutes later, Touré found Aguero. His chest control, not perfect, turned into a pass for Silva. From 20 yards the brilliant Spaniard drilled in the fifth.

Manchester City (4-4-2) Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov; Nasri (Lampard, 70), Fernandinho, Toure, Silva (Jesús Navas, 59); Dzeko, Aguero (Bony, 60)

Newcastle United (4-1-4-1) Krul; Janmaat (Taylor, 71), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara; Anita (Abeid, h-t); Gouffran (Obertan, 86), Sissoko, Colback, Perez; Cisse

Referee: Chris Foy

Man of the match: Aguero (Man City)

Match rating: 7/10