By Matthew Jones
August 25 2002

Darren Huckerby's first-half header was enough to give Manchester City their first win of the season against Newcastle at Maine Road. Darren Huckerby's first-half header was enough to give Manchester City their first win of the season against Newcastle at Maine Road.

Kevin Keegan's side recovered well from their opening-day defeat at Leeds to grab all three points, although Kieron Dyer wasted two excellent opportunities to bring the Magpies level.

City dominated the early stages, with Huckerby denied by Shay Given's legs before the City striker had an effort cleared off the line by Nicos Dabizas.

Nicolas Anelka then curled a shot wide, with Newcastle having their first shot on target just before the half-hour mark when Peter Schmeichel smothered an effort from Gary Speed.

Marc Vivien Foe headed over an empty goal for City before the home side deservedly took the lead when Anelka's cross was met by Niclas Jensen, whose shot was parried by Given only for Huckerby to head home from a few yards out.

Newcastle should have levelled soon after when Schmeichel denied Lomano Tresor Lua Lua, only for Dyer to drill the rebound wide of a gaping net.
Schmeichel denied Dyer before the break, while at the other end Huckerby saw his shot blocked by Given seconds before the interval.

Sylvain Distin's error at the start of the second half should have been punished by Dyer but he blazed over, while City's Shaun Wright-Phillips fired into the side-netting and Anelka saw his low drive saved by Given.

Schmeichel made two more excellent saves from Jermaine Jenas and Dyer as Newcastle pressed hard for a late equaliser, but the City defence stood firm to earn the Blues their first Premiership victory of the season.