City are still on course for a good start despite their defeat at Newcastle on Monday night according to inspirational midfielder Richie Wellens.

It was a very tight game in which City had the better of the first half but lost the only goal of the game in the second to a side rated clear favourites to win the division so they showed they can compete strongly with a side considered the best.

With two home games coming up after the international break, the damage can soon be repaired and six points against Blackpool and Peterborough would add to the hundred per cent home record so far.

Wellens said: "We have still done okay. We have had three tough away games and after the break we have two home games coming up and if we get six points from these two home games it will have been a good start.

"If you want to be up there, every team needs to have good home form. It is very rare you find a team top of the league when it struggles at home and wins away. It is difficult to win away in this league and what we have to do is make sure we are difficult to beat at home and every home win is vital."

Home advantage was clear to City on Monday night with the Toon Army backing their team to the hilt in undeniably Premiership surroundings.

Wellens said: "They have probably got the best squad, they have the biggest stadium and most money in the league so to go there and give a good account of ourselves was good but we wanted to win the game and maybe we should have.

"We didn't quite take our chances. I thought in the first half we knocked it about well and made chances then in the second we huffed and puffed a bit and needed to be more creative in the final third and it didn't quite happen."

See how City fare for yourself in the next two home games against Blackpool on Saturday 12th and Peterborough on Tuesday 15th September by purchasing your tickets online today.