I knew the score before I watched the game as I'd recorded it on Sky+, but I actually thought we were quite impressive today. We created a few chances in the first half, and could have gone in 2-0 up if Jovetic & Kolarov had got a little more luck down the left side. Even when the second half came and Newcastle began to turn up the pressure we stood tall and reduced them to very few opportunities. Some players (Yaya, Nasri) still looked a little off the pace in terms of fitness levels but that will get better as the weeks go on.
As for key players, my man of the match was Fernando. He lived up to his "Octopus" nickname easily, controlling the midfield with robust challenges and keeping possession safely. Dzeko was also looking very bright - his backheel for the goal shows a confidence he's never had before. Clichy provided energy down the right hand side, and Kompany's reading of the game reached a new level today, covering all across the back four at times. Aguero looked a little lacking in fitness but his work for his goal was the showing of a world class striker on the mend: he made the chance himself and reacted quickest after Krul's save.
Newcastle understandably stepped up the pressure in the second half and there were a couple of hairy moments that could have got them back into the game, but we defended astutely enough to carry ourselves through. Cabella and Perez are going to be big players for Newcastle this season. Today's game reminded me of the away game to Hull last season: not at our most threatening going forward but solid enough at the back to deal with any pressure we faced and clinical to get the job done. A good show all round.