Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he is "so satisfied with the commitment of the players" after the Premier League champions maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a battling victory over winless Newcastle.
Full-back Kyle Walker was the match-winner with his first goal for the club, picking the ball up 30 yards out and drilling a low finish into the far corner of the net.
City had seen title rivals Liverpool and Chelsea win earlier on Saturday and had to work hard for three points to keep pace at the top end of the table.
"To start with 10 points from 12 is a good start for us," Guardiola told BBC Sport. "Step by step we will get our best condition."
"After the international break, the season starts with the Champions League, Carabao Cup, the kids go back to school and there will be order in our lives."
Guardiola's side were forcing the issue against a Newcastle side set up to defend at Etihad Stadium and took the lead within the opening 10 minutes through Raheem Sterling's curled effort.
But the home side missed clear-cut chances and were punished when striker Salomon Rondon set up DeAndre Yedlin to stroke home the equaliser before half-time.
It proved to be Newcastle's only shot on target in the match, however, and Rafael Benitez's beleaguered side have now collected just one point from their first four games.
