Dynamic duo a joy to watch

If watching Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero tear Norwich apart in such spectacular fashion was impressive, imagine playing in midfield watching on.

Manchester City midfielder Nigel De Jong spoke of his pleasure at seeing them at close quarters and insisted they were not alone in showing quality.

“It just is a joy to watch,” said the Dutch international who helped swamp the Norwich midfield and set up Manchester City’s 6-1 win at Carrow Road.

“I mean if you play behind them and see how they play together, how they move together and play with each other, and it’s not just the two of them — there are other guys in the team as well.

“Today it was Carlos and Sergio but it could be Eddie [Dzeko] or someone else next week. That keeps everyone on their toes. That’s why everyone is performing at their best.”

The Argentine duo grabbed five goals between them, with Tevez hitting a hat-trick, while substitute Adam Johnson scored City’s sixth to bolster their goal difference, should it be needed.

City’s second win in a week, along with 10 goals, put them within two points of Manchester United before Alex Ferguson’s men brought the gap back to five by beating Aston Villa yesterday, and while Roberto Mancini may have conceded the title, De Jong insists they will not give up on the race.

“Everyone knows that it will be hard, you have to be a realist as well,” said De Jong. “But on the other hand nothing is impossible but whatever he said the players and the staff will keep fighting until the end, until the last game of the season and then you will see where we stand, with the title or not. It’s not in our own hands anymore. We have a game against them at home so we can make the gap smaller.”

The Dutch international believes a recent slump in form has proved costly but can be rectified.

He said: “We had a blip in the last month. That is the only reason.

“We have the players in the squad to be title contenders and we still are so we just have to keep fighting and see where we end the season.”

Norwich manager Paul Lambert refused to be too hard on his side, whose only reply came from substitute Andrew Surman, six minutes after half-time.

“I’m not sure we deserved to lose that game 6-1, said Lambert. “For 70-odd minutes we were right in it and at 2-1 we were on the ascendancy.

“But three goals in seven minutes is poor from our point of view but when you are playing against players of their calibre it can happen.”

Tevez answered the Norwich fans’ taunts of “he wants to go home” with a stunning 19th-minute goal.

Norwich centre-half Darren Ward lost possession high up in his own half to Aguero who quickly found David Silva, who in turn fed Tevez and the 28-year-old hit a viciously swerving shot, which dipped and changed direction to beat the bewildered John Ruddy.

Aguero got the second when he played a one-two with Tevez who back-heeled a return into his path and the 23-year-old lashed home.

Tevez was wrongly booked for diving when he was caught by Ryan Bennett while City appealed for a penalty.

A minute later and Lancashire referee Chris Foy waved away another penalty appeal when Aguero went down under an Anthony Pilkington challenge.

Wes Hoolahan played a part in Norwich’s goal as Joe Hart punched a cross straight to Surman who hit through a crowd of players.

Tevez grabbed his second when he got above Bennett to nod in after Ruddy saved a Yaya Toure shot and a poor back pass by Bennett allowed Tevez to grab his third.

Aguero squeezed his second in between those Tevez goals when he bent a shot around Ruddy.

He then helped set up City’s sixth when his deep cross was knocked across goal by Gael Clichy and Johnson pounced.