Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has insisted that it is still too early to draw any conclusions from the Premier League table, despite his side enjoying a 13-point lead at the halfway stage of the season.
City have showcased an unprecedented level of dominance during the opening 19 games of the campaign, dropping just two points and winning 17 consecutive games to build a significant lead over the chasing pack.
Manchester United's Boxing Day draw with Burnley means that victory over Newcastle United on Wednesday would take City 15 points clear, but Kompany warned his side that there is no room for complacency to creep in.
"I don't know if everyone will remember but it was six games left and we were eight points behind [on the way to winning the title in 2012], so that's why I am always the first to come in and say, 'No guys, we can't really take the foot off the gas'. I really don't want that," he told reporters.
"We push, we push, we push, and no-one has the right to let their performance down or their guard down. It's the first time we have been ahead like this. Honestly, I don't feel too much difference, but it's a bit too early to draw any conclusions.
"But I do feel like we have been in much more high-pressure environments, [like] when we had to play United and we were three points behind. Those are the games that are completely different to any others you will play in your life. But at this moment in time we have got the chance.
"We are in a position where we can just focus on our football, not anything else, and winning the game and having the performance at the same time. It's a bit different, but the desire to win is there. I think we all have a role to say something and there are a lot of experienced players in the team. We do mention it but the manager will have mentioned it many times before as well. We all have that [winning] feeling and we don't want it to go away."
City travel to St James' Park bidding to maintain their 100% away record in the Premier League this season.
Barney Corkhill
