Ray Wilkins and Magpies defender Steven Taylor analyse Manchester City's victory at Newcastle

Manchester City were in ruthless mood as they bounced back at Newcastle

Ray Wilkins and Magpies defender Steven Taylor analyse Manchester City's 3-1 victory at Newcastle.

In an entertaining lunchtime clash, a neat square ball from Samir Nasri allowed Sergio Aguero to open the scoring early on - and Javi Garcia doubled the advantage from a corner before half-time.

St James' Park fans found their voices again when Demba Ba stole in to power home a header of his own before the hour mark, but Yaya Toure's late effort ensured the champions bounced back from defeat to United with three points.

Wilkins told Sky Sports afterwards: "I don't think there are too many questions about City. It's always difficult after a derby defeat as all the talk in Manchester would have been about that game.

"As far as they're concerned, they've played a good game today and have moved the ball nicely. They had to win."

Taylor, who was unavailable to Magpies boss Alan Pardew due to a hamstring injury, agreed that Roberto Mancini's visitors had oozed class throughout.

He said: "City were fantastic today with the ability they've got. They caused us a few problems today. I thought the boys performed well and the fans got behind us at 2-1. We were back in the game and created some great chances.

"I think our fans will be happy. Everybody put a great shift in and fair play to them. There's another big game next week and hopefully we can repay them."

Key man

Wilkins was quick to highlight the contribution of City's towering midfielder, whose incisive pass allowed Nasri to lay on the first before he rubber-stamped victory with a late goal of his own.

Wilkins added: "City will really miss the Toure brothers when they go away for the Africa Cup of Nations. It's imperative that Yaya Toure plays every week because he scores goals and provides them. He's probably the most complete midfielder out there.

"It was a fantastic run from Samir Nasri. Davide Santon wasn't in a bad position but the pass was perfect and Newcastle had no chance."

There was less admiration for the attacking and more criticism of the defending during analysis of the second goal, when Garcia was allowed the space to nod past Tim Krul.

Wilkins added: "As for the second goal, you can defend against that. You've got to get tight to people and make it difficult for people. It was Andy Williamson's man who gets the header. Sergio Aguero comes across Santon and that puts Santon off."

Taylor said: "The gaffer touched upon it. We'll be disappointed having conceded from set plays. The second half, we reacted great and Demba Ba scored a bullet header. I thought that was the way we'd score today and it was a fantastic header."

Papiss Cisse was again a slightly peripheral figure for the hosts, and Wilkins believes the Senegalese striker is finding the adjustment to playing out wide a difficult one.

He said: "I don't see the same Cisse as I saw last January. He was flying around the pitch and scoring goals and he's not doing that now. Ba has done exceptionally well and I think if Cisse gets his game in order, Newcastle can score bundles of goals. It's a real plus that Ba and Cisse are not going to the Africa Cup of Nations."

Taylor defended his team-mate's contribution, insisting: "You've got to remember that Cisse is doing the job for us defensively - he's playing out wider and at the moment he isn't being used as a strike partner for Ba."