Source: Team_Talk
Kidd: City proved title credentials
Assistant Brian Kidd believes Manchester City proved they have the substance to challenge for the title after they beat Newcastle 2-1.[LNB] City were below their best but were able to claim a victory that moved them up to second in the table after substitute Adam Johnson scored the winner after 75 minutes.[LNB]"I think that sums us up, if you want to win in the Premier League you have to dig results out," Kidd told ESPN.[LNB]"I think you saw bits of everything today.[LNB]"We knew we weren't really at it in the first half. But that was the pleasing thing, because the players responded.[LNB]"We've gone second in the league now. Over 38 games you get games like that, that are not for the purists.[LNB]"What is pleasing is that the players have shown that there is substance in the result. You know you've got a chance when you've got that in the squad."[LNB]Carlos Tevez had earlier given City the lead with an 18th-minute penalty before Jonas Gutierrez equalised six minutes later.[LNB]The match looked set to remain deadlocked until Johnson scored three minutes after coming on, and Kidd believes manager Roberto Mancini deserved the credit for his side's success.[LNB]"Tactically he changed it two or three times," he added.[LNB]"Credit must go to the boss - he went for it. I think his substitutions and tactics proved that."[LNB]Newcastle boss Chris Hughton believed his side were denied a point after claiming "two horrendous" decisions went against the Magpies.[LNB]Hughton disputed Manchester City's early penalty, when Mike Williamson was penalised, before complaining that Shola Ameobi was denied a spot-kick late on when he went down under pressure from Joleon Lescott.[LNB]"We come here knowing it is going to be hard enough," he said.[LNB]"But two horrendous decisions went against us.[LNB]"My first view was that Mike Williamson played the ball and that the initial contact is outside the penalty box."[LNB]Speaking about the second incident he said: "Absolutely (it is a penalty). We've already seen it. Lescott loses his footing and of course - absolute penalty.[LNB]"It's a tough enough place to go."
