Newcastle 0 Manchester City 2: Cheick Tiote goal was 'absolutely offside' says Manuel Pellegrini

The goal would have brought the home side level

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew (2-L) gestures towards Referee Mike Jones (2-R) as they leave the pitch at half time (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says the referee made the right decision to rule out Cheick Tiote's effort at St James' Park.

The Ivory Coast midfielder thought he had cancelled out Edin Dzeko's opener only for referee Mike Jones to confer with his assistant and rule it out.

Yoan Gouffran was adjudged to have been interfering with play in an offside position as the sweetly struck shot flew into the net.

Tiote and his manager Alan Pardew have since expressed their dismay at the decision, however Manchester City manager Pellegrini sees it differently.

"Of course it was absolutely offside," he said after seeing his side win 2-0 to go to the summit of the Premier League.

The 60-year-old also had cause to feel aggrieved due to a second flashpoint in the match, which came in the 75th minute when Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa went in recklessly from the side on Samir Nasri.

The City midfielder required several minutes' of treatment before being taken off on a stretcher with his left leg in a brace, and Pellegrini felt Yanga-Mbiwa should have seen more than just a yellow card.

"The kick he made to Nasri was absolutely a red card directly," he told Sky Sports.

"We did not have any help from the referee today. He didn't give a goal because it was absolutely offside, that is the only clear thing about which Newcastle can complain - but it was offside."

Pellegrini fears Nasri suffered a "serious" medial ligament injury in the challenge with Yanga-Mbiwa.

"Nasri has I think a serious injury to his knee, we will see tomorrow. I repeat it was a direct red card," he said. "It's his medial ligament. We will see tomorrow what has happened with him."

Discussing his spat with Pardew, he added: "He was complaining all the decisions of the referee. Every time you whistle a foul he complained. I don't think that's the way to do it."

Asked if he had a problem with anything Pardew said to he, he said: "Nothing, nothing. No problem."