Pep Guardiola hailed the fabulous Manchester City support for their part in lifting his team out of their Real Madrid rut and surging back to the top of the Premier League. And his opposite number Eddie Howe, the Newcastle boss, also conceded that the reaction of the Etihad Stadium crowd had been a factor in deciding the game.
Guardiola has not always been enamoured of the City home fans, but has always been full of praise for the loyal travelling support. But he felt the way they bounced back from the crushing disappointment of having a Champions League final date snatched away, and got right behind the team, was important.
Roared on from the moment they walked onto the pitch, the City players responded with a fine performance and a 5-0 win that not only opened a three-point lead on Liverpool but also overturned their one-goal advantage in goal difference and turned it into a four-goal City superiority.
