When striker Nicolas Anelka stroked home an 11th minute penalty against Chelsea last week in Manchester City's 1-0 home win, it was only the second time the west London side's defence had been breached this season.

As the City players board the team bus for Tyneside, ahead of tomorrow's game at St James' Park, talk in the football fraternity surrounds whether Kevin Keegan had traded his usual swash-buckling all out attack paradigm for a more cautious and pragmatic approach bordering on, well, boring.

Only Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur can boast such a meaner back line than City in the current campaign.

Married with the fact City have only scored nine goals in nine Premiership League games, these are statistics not synonymous with a team of Keegan's usual panache.

As United fans know only too well the legacy Keegan left them was one of breathtaking attacking verve, and one-touch football played at breakneck speeds, which cut a swathe through the meanest of defences with ease.

Parallels with the current Arsenal side are all too apparent.

Keegan continued with this model when he left the Magpies for Fulham before England and Manchester City, where despite last term's horrendous run of 14 Premiership games without a win, Keegan refused to change his attacking ways; until now that is.

The former United boss has abandoned his adventurous 3-5-2 formation, reverted to a more solid 4-4-2 and with the addition of Danny Mills and Ben Thatcher, and the current renaissance of Richard Dunne, City now have a more resilient back line.

Former City and England winger Peter Barnes believes Keegan has had no option but to adopt a defensive strategy - because of injuries to the team and a lack of form to key players.

Barnes works in the hospitality lounges at the City of Manchester Stadium and admitted: "It has surprised me how well they've done so far, because they have had a few injuries. They have tried to tighten it up this season.

"But I think they will have to play this way because they do not have many options. Trevor Sinclair is injured, as are Sun Jihai and Joey Barton; Steve McManaman has just come back from injury and Robbie Fowler is still trying to find full fitness and form.

"Kevin has reverted to a flat back four where he previously liked to play with three, and with City signing a decent right back, it has given Shaun Wright-Philips more of a chance to get forward.

"Previously he was having to get back, defend and cover for other people when his strengths are going forward."

As for tomorrow, the former Maine Road favourite would be happy if both sides are level at the end of 90 minutes.

He said: "It will be very difficult as Newcastle are in good form. They have a new manager and have remained unbeaten in eight games.

"Souness has given them that bit of steel. I think a draw will be a good result for City the way Newcastle are playing. We just have to keep out Shearer and Bellamy.''

John Beresford, on the other hand, takes an opposite opinion to his former manager's new ideals.

The ex-St James' left back believes Keegan has learned to compromise his attacking principles and adopted a more pragmatic approach as a result of his managerial experience and City's poor showing last year.

"I think Kevin took a bit of stick - and so did we - playing a certain way but I think when he has moved on in management he has learned from the mistakes he made at Newcastle," said the former fans' favourite.

"At Newcastle he had a set of players where he thought attack was the best way to play. You are always going to leave yourself open to goals but you were always going to score a lot of goals at the same time.

"But when he got back in to the Premiership with City he was caught in two minds whether to attack or be more defensive and in the end he did neither.

"They had such a bad season last year and they were very lucky to survive.

"He came into this season under a lot of pressure and needed a good start and I think he decided to make them more difficult to beat and that is why it does not surprise me they have not been conceding any silly goals.

"The problem when you set your stall out like that, means you don't score too many and City have only scored nine so far."

Beresford famously clashed with Keegan over tactics in a game against Aston Villa as tensions mounted on the run in to the 1996 Premiership title race.

The 38-year-old also revealed how he stunned the United dressing room on another occasion by announcing the team where going to play with three centre-half's and two wing-backs - despite never ever practising in training!

He recalled: "We turned up to play Wimbledon one day and Kevin decided to play with Steve Howey, Philippe Albert and Darren Peacock and myself and Marc Hottiger as wing backs when we had not played that way before.

"Kevin was naive sometimes and thought we could just go out and do it when you need to work at it. Kevin did like to play that way on occasion away.

"But at home it was always 4-4-2, where he wanted us to get the ball down; get it wide; open the pitch up as much as possible; get forward and let the opposition worry about us.

"I think that year we had the third or fourth best defensive record in the league and I think we had the best goals for, too goals conceded in the league.

"There is no way you can come second in the Premiership twice and have a bad defence.

"Funnily enough, when Kevin and I clashed it was about David Ginola and his unwillingness to track back. I think I lasted 15 minutes against Aston Villa.''

Beresford, now a regular pundit on Tyne-Tees Television, added: "On the Friday before the game Kevin said to me that I would have to tuck in a bit as they play three up front.

"I said 'I'm not being funny gaffer but I'll not be able to. Gary Charles will be bombing on and they will get in down the side'.

"But he said it wouldn't happen as he would get David to track back. I did laugh when he said it.

"Sure enough, within ten minutes Gary Charles was bombing on and David was stood on the half way line with his hands on his hips.

"I shouted 'I told you so' to Kevin on the bench, and he told me to just get on with it, so I told him where to go.

"I thought 'what have I just done?' And then I saw Robbie Elliott warming up and my number was being pulled out by Derek Wright.

"After the game I asked Arthur Cox what I should do? He told me to get on bended knee and beg -which I did.

"Kevin told me not to worry about it as we had a good relationship but I was still sub for the last six games of the season.''

Keegan is sure of a warm welcome tomorrow and Beresford admtted: "Kevin will play a bit cautious and will probably leave Anelka one on one with whoever United play at the back.

"If Newcastle score first they will go on and win easily but the longer the game goes on City have a chance because the frustration starts to build from the crowd. But I fancy Newcastle strongly and expect them to win."