City emerged from a tortuous 10 days to overcome Newcastle last night, their third win in four Barclays Premier League games, a run that has taken them back into the top half of the table for the first time since the beginning of November.

It was the perfect way to answer critics who have leapt on a bandwagon generated by the failed attempt to land Kaka, Robinho's decision to quit a warm weather training camp in Tenerife and return home to Brazil after which he was questioned by West Yorkshire Police on Monday night about a rape allegation he strenuously denies.

Yet the result was not enough for a handful of fans, who delivered a stream of insults towards the Press Box in retribution for the criticism of their club.

Hughes was singled out individually for his part in dealing with Robinho's unscheduled trip to South America.

Yet, as a former player who includes Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Chelsea on his CV, Hughes knows such reactions come with the territory of being a truly big club.

And he feels City and their supporters need to understand such standing is not restricted to events on the pitch.

"We are now viewed as a big club and as a consequence of that everybody connected with us has to have a big club mentality," said Hughes.

"The focus on us this year is more than tenfold what it was in the past and we have to deal with it. It has to be expected because there is a huge interest in what we do.

"That only accentuates the negative agenda some people have of us. They will try to make mischief and make our job harder.

"But that happens at every top club and if we are viewed as a big club we have to act like one.

"It doesn't faze me. I have experienced it for many years.

"When you have an understanding of the angles that criticism sometimes comes from you can deal with it in a better way."

As City's present run has eased any fears of the world's richest club getting relegated and Robinho confirmed his mental well-being with an effective performance against the Magpies, they should start enjoying the fruits of their labours.

There are still weaknesses to address and Hughes has made little effort to disguise his desire to attract Shay Given and Roque Santa Cruz, both of whom want to come only for Newcastle and Blackburn to resist until the price and time are right.

But the momentum is gathering for the Blues and while they are currently nine points behind sixth-placed Everton, Hughes' team do have a game in hand and new signing Craig Bellamy was correct in suggesting a place in the top half dozen is not entirely out of the question.

Certainly history suggests Hughes' sides tend to be more effective in the second half of a season and the former Wales star sees no reason why the same scenario should not prove correct for City.

"We are making steady progress," said Hughes.

"There is a consistency about us now which has been helped by the fact we have been able to bring quality players into the club.

"We have addressed frailties within the squad and now the hope is we will start to reap the benefits of the work we have already done.

"I have always said the second half of the season would be stronger for us because I have made a lot of changes, on and off the field.

"We are in the top 10 and our aim from now until the end of the season is to ensure we stay there. We have enough quality to do that."

The next test of Hughes' new-look side, in which Bellamy and Nigel de Jong made impressive debuts last night, will come at Stoke on Saturday.

City have not won on their travels in the top flight since August but hopes are high of emulating that victory against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.