MAN CITY 6, NEWCASTLE UNITED 1
Sergio Aguero joined an elite group of players to have scored five goals in a Premier League match.
What made the Argentine’s haul in Manchester City’s home match against Newcastle United special was that it came in a 21-minute spell.
And Aguero could conceivably have scored even more had manager Manuel Pellegrini not substituted him midway through the second half.
As it was Aguero equalled Alan Shearer, Andy Cole, Jermain Defoe and Dimitar Berbatov who have also scored five goals in a Premier League game.
It was an extraordinary game in which City laboured for most of the opening half in which Newcastle, ahead for 24 minutes through an Aleksandar Mitrovic goal, could have been 2-0 ahead but for a super stop from Joe Hart.
Once City drew level just before half time, though, there was only going to be one winner as they blitzed Newcastle early in the second half as they leapfrogged their neighbours to regain top spot as United don’t play Arsenal until Sunday.
And the way in which Newcastle, now bottom of the table, capitulated must be a massive concern for Steve McClaren whose side lacks leaders on the pitch.
Pellegrini was delighted for his striker saying: “We are very happy for Kun who deserved it as he always makes a difference.
“It is amazing to score five goals, especially today when we were 1-0 down.
“In the last game he missed some important chances and I told him it was important to stay calm. To see him play at that level today was great, not only for me but all the fans must be happy.”
Pellegrini also revealed that Ageuro needed treatment at half time for a kick to his hamstring and he was taken off early as a precaution.
City’s manager added that Aguero is player who is proven saying he was the Premier League’s to scorer last season and the year before decided the title in their favour.
Pellegrini, asked whether Aguero is the best player he has worked with, replied: “I have worked with a lot of important players, Ronaldo, Raul and van Nistelrooy, but the important thing is to have Kun in my team.”
City made three changes from the side that won at Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League in midweek.
There were recalls for Pablo Zabaleta, Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando as Bacary Sagna, Martin Demichelis and the injured Yaya Toure missed out.
Significantly this was the first time that Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne appeared in the same line up forming an abundance of attacking riches.
And it was De Bruyne who caused havoc with an early free kick that keeper Tim Krul could only parry. Fernando’s follow-up shot was blocked and Newcastle managed to scramble the ball to safety.
Silva and Aguero also had chances as Newcastle lived dangerously from the start after a difficult opening to the campaign.
But it was Newcastle who stole ahead in the 18th minute to stun City who had not been troubled until that point.
Left-back Kevin Mbabu broke and his cross was cleared by Mangala, but only back to Georgino Wijnaldum who delivered a delightful ball for Mitrovic to head home.
After keeping clean sheets in their first five games, City have now conceded 10 goals in 392 minutes with the absence of centre-back and captain Vincent Kompany having a bearing on their defensive demise.
And City were lucky not to go 2-0 down when their defence was carved open again and Mitrovic found himself with only Hart to beat, though the keeper made an excellent block.
City rallied and had chances to equalise as Aguero shot narrowly wide, Fernando had a header blocked and Fernandinho fired off target.
The equaliser finally arrived three minutes before the break when Silva’s cross was headed back across the face of goal by Fernandinho for Aguero to find the net with a diving header from inside the six-yard box.
City made an electrifying start to the second half finding the net three times in the first nine minutes to seal victory – they had scored all four goals in a 12-minute spell.
Aguero set the ball rolling as he latched to a Silva cross, rounded Fabricio Coloccini and found the net with the aid of a deflection off Yoan Gouffran.
And the Argentine was on target one minute to complete his hat trick, his sixth for City, as he was put clear by De Bruyne’s slide-rule pass to chip keeper Krul.
The avalanche of goals continued when De Bruyne scored with an exquisite volley which looped over Krul following a cross from substitute Jesus Navas. It was his fourth goal in seven games since joining the club from Wolfsburg.
Aguero made it 5-1 on the hour with his fourth goal as he was set up by Silva before rounding Mbemba and curling in a great shot.
City then made it six goals in 20 minute and five for Aguero who slide in at the far post to convert a low cross from De Bruyne, his eighth goal in only 11 games for City this season.
Pellegrini had the luxury of being able to substitute Aguero midway through the second period as he was replaced by Wilfried Bony as the change prevented the striker from possibly inflicting even more pain on Newcastle.
Silva was also taken off to enable youngster Kelechi Iheancho was given another run out. He almost scored within one minute of his entrance as his shot was beaten out by Krul.
And to add insult to injury for Newcastle, at the final whistle a City fan, sat just behind the visiting technical area, opened a brolly with the words emblazoned with ‘Where’s Wally?’ a dig at McClaren from his days as England manager when he used an umbrella to keep dry on the touchline at Wembley during a downpour.