Now, where were we?

Two weeks ago we played and won at a St.James' Park that was brimming over with good cheer - and more fans than of late, thanks to a successful season ticket promotion that had combined with our on-field form to create something resembling the most positive atmosphere in recent memory. 

A fortnight later though and much of that feeling of progression has been replaced by a more familiar one of deflation and Deja vu, after our masters seemingly reverted to type and began undoing their good work in almost wilful fashion.

Attempting to change the ground name in the haphazard fashion to which we've become only too accustomed (with further "@ St.James' Park" signage only just bolted in place), gave notice that disharmony was back on the agenda, before tabloid revelations of conversations between Derek Llambias and some fans re-opened old wounds of the Shearer, Keegan, Hughton and Carroll variety. 

In fairness, the latter story was more depressing than disgusting, with some elements of both truth and logic in what was said in amongst the bragging and swearing. Some things round here don't change though, with Shearer still the target of abuse in a covertly-recorded, unguarded, bar-room conversation involving a club official - 13 years after Freddy and Douggie's infamous "Mary Poppins" comments. 

(By the way, if a Shearer statue is planned, the current administration may get the ball rolling with their own contribution to it....a pair of concrete boots).

If there was any surprise in the story, it was that Del Boy felt emboldened enough to go out into the town post-match and drink with punters - and that Newcastle possessed a so-called gastro pub...

Taking stock of all that with a vague air of resignation, the destination of our next game was never likely to provide much relief, City's ground proving to be an ill-fated venue in our previous seven visits regardless of its numerous rebrandings, going back to when Joey Barton was a Citizen. 

That our unbeaten run ended here was no great shock, given the superior form of the league leaders and the combination of confidence, pace and precision that they possess (plus strength in depth that sees them stride on with Johnson, Silva and Dzeko benched and Tevez AWOL). What is obvious close up also is the sheer size of Mancini's side, notably Yaya Toure. Big lads, taking no prisoners but just about staying within the boundaries of the law this time round. 

Despite some overwhelming possession, City's dominance didn't translate into them laying siege on Tim Krul's goal. Aside from occasional flurries down the right from Sammy Ameobi though, United were seldom seen as an attacking force in the opening half hour as Demba Ba struggled to hold the ball up and Hatem Ben Arfa tried to get into the game, starting for the first time since leaving this stadium by ambulance some 13 months ago. 

That changed though as the Magpies forced their way upfield and fashioned two scoring chances - Ben Arfa opting not to pull the trigger in favour of finding Ba, whose shot was smothered by Joe Hart, and Ba then unmarked at a corner but only able to head narrowly wide. 

With chances inevitably at a premium, those who feared the worst from our spurning two in quick succession were soon plunged into gloom after four horrible minutes just before half time. First Ryan Taylor's outstretched arm to concede a spot kick, before the same player got himself in a tangle when trying to deal with a ball across the box, presenting a gift of a goal to Micah Richards.

Two behind and mindful of City's habit of stepping things up after half time, damage limitation looked to be our first priority after the restart. Again though they thrust without cutting and James Milner continued with his industrious work for little reward as Balotelli sauntered around before going off.  

A glimmer of hope that something remarkable could still come to pass was then raised and dashed, as Ben Arfa took advantage of a slack pass to wriggle forward and place his low shot beyond Hart, but also crucially back off the post to nobody in particular. Fabricio Coloccini then ripped a fierce volley wide of the target and Danny Guthrie tested Hart from a narrow angle - with Steven Tayor agonisingly close to reaching the rebound - as our hopes rose.  

Had one gone in, the destiny of the points could have altered, but when Ben Arfa appeared at the other end of the field to clumsily concede another penalty that Aguero duly converted, City's unbeaten start to the season was on the way to being extended and ours was en route to ending. 

It should be noted that Steven Taylor was at the time off for treatment after having clouted himself on the nose again. The latest damage to his hooter (but not a break thankfully) seemed to have come from him heading the ball with his face. At least Hatem was back in the thick of things, rather than taking a long view back from the centre circle, as some of his predecessors were prone to do. 

There was certainly no disgrace in this defeat for United, who put in another spirited performance despite the cracks in the squad beginning to show. And if nothing else was achieved from this afternoon, getting Ben Arfa through this phyiscal and mental test may prove to be a significant plus.

Our record may have gone, but despite the world apparently ending again behind the scenes, there was enough going on here to suggest forward momentum has only been slowed not halted. A similarly resolute performance across the city next week may not bring any reward - and we're not holding our breath after countless previous trudges past Lou Macari's chip shop  - but we at least maintained some discipline here, aided by some pre-Napoli slackening off from the home side. 

The prospect of taking Chelsea on at home should be one that players and fans alike relish though, as Alan Pardew prepares to mark his first anniversary of life in what has always been a madhouse, aka St.James' Park.