By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City 6 (Aguero 42, 49, 50, 60, 62 De Bruyne 53)
Newcastle United 1 (Mitrovic 18)
Newcastle United suffered a second-half collapse as they were defeated 6-1 at Manchester City on Saturday in the Barclays Premier League.
Aleksandar Mitrovic headed the Magpies in front at the Etihad Stadium but Sergio Aguero levelled before half-time, and then went on to add a further four goals after the restart.
Belgian international midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was also on target for the hosts, who were absolutely rampant in the early part of the second period to put the contest firmly out of United's reach.
It had all started so differently, however, when Mitrovic planted a diving header from Georginio Wijnaldum's cross past Joe Hart to reward his side for a confident start.
The Serbian then saw a couple of chances come and go, and City made them pay in the 42nd minute as Aguero levelled, nodding home Fernandinho's knock-back.
Newcastle were looking to return to Tyneside with at least a point but a 12-minute spell at the beginning of the second half saw that become impossible.
Aguero struck with a deflected shot and a cheeky chipped finish to complete his hat-trick, before De Bruyne got in on the act, hooking an outstanding volley into the top corner.
But Aguero was undoubtedly the star of the show, and had two more goals up his sleeve - a low striker from distance and a close-range effort.
The result leaves Newcastle winless from their opening eight league games of the season, and they now have an international break before Norwich travel to St. James' Park later this month.
United made a bright start and threatened inside the opening three minutes.
Daryl Janmaat exchanged passes with Moussa Sissoko before delivering a dangerous low cross which Nicolas Otamendi was forced to hack behind from inside the six-yard box.
But the hosts responded almost immediately, coming within inches of breaking the deadlock.
De Bruyne's free-kick was heading for the bottom corner until the excellent intervention of Tim Krul's fingertips, and as David Silva kept the loose ball alive, City midfielder Fernando was unable to scramble it home from close range, under pressure from Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Having impressed in his defensive responsibilities, the Serbian striker was soon in action at the other end of the pitch, reacting quickest to Kevin Mbabu's shanked cross but flicking his effort straight into the hands of Joe Hart.
And on 18 minutes, Mitrovic had his first goal for the Magpies, as they took a shock lead.
Mbabu raced past Pablo Zabaleta down the left, before delivering a low cross, which was intercepted by Eliaquim Mangala, but only as far as Wijnaldum.
The Dutch midfielder took a touch, looked up and duly sent a brilliant outside-of-the-boot pass onto the forehead of Mitrovic, who stopped to nod past Hart and send more than 2,000 travelling supporters into delirium.
Manchester City were stunned and Mitrovic tried to take advantage with the half-hour approaching, but headed Moussa Sissoko's cross over and was then foiled by the on-rushing Hart, as the hosts failed with an offside trap.
However, City slowly found their feet and Aguero was inches the wrong side of the upright with an 18-yard drive, shortly before Fernandinho suffered the same fate from a similar area but a much tougher opening.
It was end-to-end stuff and Wijnaldum shot straight into the body of Hart from the edge of the area, before Manchestert City equalised in the 42nd minute.
As Silva chipped a cross to the far post, Fernandinho had timed his run in behind the United defence to perfection, and headed back across goal where Aguero was waiting to apply a clinical close-range finish.
Five minutes into the second half the game had been completely turned on its head by Aguero.
First, the Argentine front man edged the home side in front when he sent a deflected shot past Krul from the edge of the area.
And then, less than 60 seconds later, he was released by De Bruyne and produced an outstanding dinked finish which nestled in the far corner.
City were absolutely rampant and De Bruyne turned from provider to goalscorer in the 53rd minute as they made it 4-1. Substitute Jesus Navas chipped a cross into the Belgian's direction, and De Bruyne hooked a volley past the helpless Krul.
Not content with a hat-trick, Aguero bagged his fourth of the afternoon on the hour mark.
Picking the ball up on the left-hand side of the penalty area, he shifted the ball onto his right foot and - before Chancel Mbemba had a chance to react - flashed a low, curling strike beyond the despairing grasp of Krul.
And soon, the rampant forward has his fifth and City's sixth - sliding in to steer home De Bruyne's pass.
Aguero was replaced on 65 minutes, with his afternoon's work more than done, but his replacement was Wilfried Bony and the former Swansea man almost added goal number seven when he turned and Aleksandar Kolarov cross wide at the near post.
With time running out, City had further chances but were unable to add to the scoreline on what was a bitterly disappointing afternoon for Newcastle.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart (c); Pablo Zabaleta, Eliaquim Mangala, Nicolas Otamendi, Aleksandar Kolarov; Fernandinho, Fernando; Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling (Jesus Navas 46), David Silva (Kelechi Iheanacho 75); Sergio Aguero (Wilfried Bony 65)
Subs not used: Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna, Martin Demichelis, Manu Garcia
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Kevin Mbabu (Jamaal Lascelles 53); Moussa Sissoko (Cheick Tiote 66), Vurnon Anita, Yoan Gouffran (Florian Thauvin 66), Georginio Wijnaldum; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic
Subs not used: Rob Elliot, Mike Williamson, Siem de Jong, Papiss Cisse
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Bookings: Manchester City - Fernandinho (45), Zabaleta (82), Mangala (88); Newcastle United - Anita (36)
