Fine margins separate the best from the rest and so it was as St James’ Park where Manchester City kicked off their defence of the Premier League with a 2-0 win against Newcastle.

The home side had been busy in the transfer market over the summer and Alan Pardew handed debuts to four summer acquisitions and there was a vibrant buzz around the stadium. 

Pardew could at least do his job from the technical area without the abuse that rained down on him from the stands at the end of last season.

Perhaps that was because Newcastle’s summer had also been tarnished by very real tragedy — the deaths of John Alder and Liam Sweeney, the two Newcastle fans who lost their lives in the MH17 disaster. 

Wreaths were laid before kick-off and there was also an immaculately observed minute’s silence which provided perspective and a reminder that however bad the Toon Army might sometimes think things are, they could be far worse.

Both sides played the game at high tempo but the visitors always carried the greater threat with more who creativity in the middle of the field and incisiveness in the final third.  

In the first 15 minutes Tim Krul was forced into a point blank save from Edin Dzeko and then an acrobatic punched clearance from Samir Nasri. 

It was this incisiveness in the final third that proved the difference in the 38th minute. 

A Newcastle move broke down and with Daryl Janmaat in an advanced position Yaya Toure found Dzeko in space on the right. 

Both Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson were drawn to deal with the threat.  

A neat back heel took them both out of the game and David Silva was able to ghost into the area and drive the ball across Krul and into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead.

An injection of pace into the Newcastle attack from substitutes Rolando Aarons and Ayoze Perez caused City a few nervous moments but, against the run of play, it was City substitute Sergio Aguero who grabbed the second. 

Beating Coloccini to a through ball and lashing the rebound into the net after Krul saved his initial effort.