City bounce back

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is ecstatic after scoring the opening goal during their Premier League encounter against Newcastle United at St James Park yesterday.Photo: AFP

Manchester City won 3-1 at Newcastle United through goals from Sergio Aguero, Javi Garcia and Yaya Toure on Saturday to improve the mood of manager Roberto Mancini.
Mancini was an angry man after City lost at home to title rivals Manchester United in their previous game, sparking talk of rifts within the dressing room.
But, if there are problems at the club, they were not obvious at St James' Park, and particularly during a first half when City were in scintillating form that warranted more than two goals.
Their failure to take other opportunities gave Newcastle a chance to gain a foothold in the game with a goal from Demba Ba -- his 11th of the season -- early in the second half.
But Toure's goal made the points safe for City, underlining their determination to stay in the title race and adding to the relegation worries of Newcastle, who have now lost six of their last seven league games.
There was certainly a gulf between the two teams in the first half, apart from the opening minutes, when City were second-best.
Only two minutes had gone when Papiss Cisse's shot was brilliantly turned away by the City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
It was a period of Newcastle pressure that clearly upset Mancini, who was soon on the touchline anxiously making changes to his team's system.
He need not have worried. Once City settled down, the movement, pace and trickery of their frontmen cruelly exploited Newcastle's immobile back four.
The visitors went ahead in the 10th minute and were in control to such an extent that they could have added three further goals in the following 10.
The goal was an excellent one. Toure created it with a superb through ball that sent Samir Nasri clear and, ignoring the chance to score, he slid the ball across to present Aguero with a simple opportunity.
Helpless on that occasion, Tim Krul, the Newcastle goalkeeper, soon did well to block a close-range shot by Carlos Tevez with an outstretched leg, then a cross by the influential Nasri just eluded the reach of two team-mates.
Krul survived again when Nasri hit the post and Mike Williamson did well to block the follow-up shot from Aguero.