On the far side to where Pep Guardiola was standing, the banner paying homage to Sheikh Mansour had been changed to mark the occasion. “Manchester thanks you for 10 great years,” it read. Vincent Kompany took a microphone to tell the crowd “this is just the beginning” and, ultimately, it was another freewheeling win for the reigning champions to usher in their first decade of Abu Dhabi ownership.
No surprise, either, given that Newcastle’s record at this stadium is so calamitous. This was their 10th successive league defeat on this ground and, for City, that equals a club record going back to the 1930s when they did the same to Wolves. Newcastle have conceded 34 goals in the process and the differing fortunes of these clubs could be explained via the songbooks of the two sets of supporters. From the home fans, there were tributes to the sheikh to mark the 10th anniversary of his takeover. As for Newcastle’s followers, their discord manifested itself in mutinous chants against Mike Ashley, a very different kind of owner.
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