As is usual immediately before an international break, manager Roberto Mancini hot-footed it away straight after the final whistle following yesterday's 3-2 win at QPR. However, as the Italian settled back for the short flight home, he could reflect on his star-studded team coming through another major test of character. City fell behind in a Premier League game for the first time this season, and also had to respond when QPR hauled themselves level midway through the second half. That they did so despite having only returned from their Champions League trip to Villarreal on Thursday is further testament to their strength of character. Indeed, post-Europe, that is now three wins and a draw for the unbeaten table-toppers, debunking the theory it is those dangerous games that could cost City their title hopes this season. "Those results have pleased us," Platt told the club's official website. "We flew to Spain on Tuesday, played in a tough game against Villarreal, then came into this game with the kind of knocks you tend to get in games like that. "David Silva had one. Samir Nasri was on the bench because he got one on his knee. It is difficult. "Ideally, you need another 24 hours to get that freshness back into them. "And although we made half a dozen changes again, it still looked as though the boys had that travelling in their legs. "We are not going to be as sharp and as bright as we have been in certain games but the beauty of it is we have still taken the three points." The more often City play at present, the more they look like the real deal. After a lethargic opening half hour, when Rangers could easily have been in a greater lead that the one Jay Bothroyd gave them with a towering header, the visitors roused themselves, turning the match on its head with goals either side of the interval through Edin Dzeko and Silva. Dzeko now has six in four games, and 13 in all competitions this season. It was Silva's goal that really caught the eye though, the simplicity of his first touch part of the brilliance as he whipped the ball away from Danny Gabbidon before lashing past Paddy Kenny. Rangers refused to buckle though and it was not until Yaya Toure rose above a crowd of bodies to head home Aleksandar Kolarov's superb curling cross that City could finally claim the points, having now scored 39 times in 11 games this season. "The players who have come to the club over the last two years are offensive," said Platt. "They have offensive characteristics. "If you have players like that, you have to play to their strengths. "As a result of that, the defence will come under pressure at times. "We don't want to concede goals but it is a fine balance." Rangers boss Neil Warnock assessed the outcome in typically blunt fashion. "The result is diabolical," he said. "It is a cruel game. We made three errors in 90 minutes against the best side in the world and we got punished." When he adopted a more reflective stance, Warnock accepted there was huge satisfaction to be gained from the fact City had been forced to dig so deep for their victory. And he also felt the performance should offer encouragement to new owner Tony Fernandes that investment made during the January transfer window will not be wasted. "We are getting better," said Warnock. "We have only been together a few weeks and we have to improve the squad in January because we struggled to get a full bench together. "We are struggling numbers-wise but I am sure that will change. "The chairman is very supportive in that way. When he sees us play like that, it has to give him encouragement to support us in January."
