Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has backed manager Roberto Mancini following the recent bust-up between the boss and captain Carlos Tevez.
Toure, whose captaincy was handed to Tevez this season, said Mancini said the right things at half-time of the clash with Newcastle United on the weekend after Tevez had questioned him about tactics.
The pair reportedly had a heated argument and had to be separated by staff and players before City went out and recorded a victory over the Magpies which Toure put down to the influence of the gaffer.
"The right things were said at half-time," said Toure. "The manager had the right words and we worked harder in the second-half and we are really happy that we got the three points.
"We are second in the league and that should give everyone confidence to come back and try to make sure our standards do not slip and that we find the consistency we need to sustain a challenge.
"If we work hard then we can maintain that challenge. The great thing for us is that we are still a new team and there is still a lot of improvement to come this season - I'm sure of that. So to be second at this stage is a really good thing."
