City boss Roberto Mancini has claimed Tevez refused to play as a substitute in the 2-0 Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich - a claim since denied by Tevez who has since been suspended by the club.

City won with goals from Adam Johnson, Mario Balotelli, Samir Nasri and Stefan Savic.

Platt said: "We wanted to win a football match and that's what we've prepared for since we got in on Thursday. We put Bayern Munich to bed and concentrated all our preparations on getting a result.

"We're blessed that one of the hardest things we've got is picking an 11 to go into a match. We know we can make six changes like we have done here and you don't lose that quality of performance."

Kean had to endure a post-match protest by fans but remained defiant.

He said: "If the fans want to vent [their frustration] I'd rather they vent it at me than the team.

"I told the lads I will battle on for my players. Even the ones I didn't bring to the club I consider my players. I'll take the criticism on my shoulders and take it away from them."

Manchester United, like rivals City, also claimed three points with a 2-0 home win over Norwich but not before being put under big pressure by Paul Lambert's side.

Steve Morison and Anthony Pilkington both wasted good chances to put the visitors in front against the champions and were made to pay when Anderson got on the end of Wayne Rooney's header into the six-yard box.

Norwich had further chances, Morison wasting a particularly good one, before Danny Welbeck finished off a fine move.

Liverpool edged past 10-man Everton to win the Merseyside derby 2-0 after second-half goals from Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez.

Everton were holding their own until Jack Rodwell was given a dubious red card - which the club have since appealed against.

Under-fire Sunderland boss Steve Bruce saw his side concede twice in the first five minutes against West Brom before coming back to earn a point.

Chris Brunt's free-kick was nodded home by James Morrison in the fourth minute and just moments later the Black Cats backline were caught flat-footed by Shane Long, who slotted home.

Bruce saw his side draw level by the 27th minute as Nicklas Bendtner scored his first goal for the club and Ahmed Elmohamady converted a cross from the Dane.

Gabriel Agbonlahor led Aston Villa to a 2-0 victory over Wigan at Villa Park.

The forward opened the scoring in the 36th minute and then turned creator for the second, powering his way down the left flank in the 62nd minute before crossing for Darren Bent, who tapped home first time.

Newcastle ran out 2-1 winners over an aggrieved Wolves at Molineux.

Demba Ba followed up his hat-trick against Blackburn last week with a headed opener in the 17th minute and Jonas Gutierrez added a solo second in the 38th minute.

Wolves were denied a penalty after what appeared to be a foul on Jamie O'Hara and, after Steven Fletcher (88) hauled them back into it, Kevin Doyle saw a late effort chalked off after the linesman indicated the ball had gone out in the build-up.