Spot on! Hart backs Pellegrini's damning verdict on Man City

Joe Hart has backed Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini's criticism of his side – and has called on his team-mates to shape up and tighten up.

The Blues have started the season poorly by their standards and are already six points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea with nine matches gone.

Pellegrini’s side crashed out of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night, in a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle, and are also struggling in the Champions League, with just two points from their opening three games.

The Chilean slammed his side following the midweek defeat to the Magpies, claiming his players lacked ‘trust’ and were conceding goals too easily.

And Hart has echoed his manager’s view.

"It’s a fair assessment,” he told Drivetime, when asked about the 61-year-old’s comments. “Those little breaks are going against us and we’re dithering on the ball.

"People are punishing us. That’s football though. We’re there to be beaten when we don’t play to the standard we want to play at.

"We’re very keen to turn that around against Manchester United on Sunday.”