Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure vowed to defy his critics after helping the champions to victory at Aston Villa.
Toure broke the deadlock with a crucial strike eight minutes from time, with Sergio Aguero then also notching in a 2-0 win in the Barclays Premier League.
The Ivorian's long-range effort at Villa Park provided a timely reminder of his talents after a difficult start to the season in which his performances have been criticised.
Toure now intends to build momentum and keep City firing at the top end of the table.
"I think it was amazing," the 31-year-old told Sky Sports of his decisive goal. "If it was not me it would have been Aguero or (David) Silva.
"The most important thing is for me to do my best. I'm keeping going: I play for a top side in Europe. And I'll just do my best to win things again this season.
"It's not so easy because you have to play every three days. I'm not a machine - I'm a man. But it's important to keep things going.
"I have great team-mates around me, and the most important thing is to do my best."
Toure's poor form has come after a difficult summer in which he voiced criticisms of the club and lost his brother to cancer.
Manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted he never had any concerns about the player's state of mind and was always sure the influential midfielder would rediscover his dynamism.
Pellegrini said: "Yaya is an experienced player. He can be criticised for one or two weeks but I know perfectly the way he thinks and the way he can play, so I never had a problem about that.
"Yaya last season also played bad games, but he scored so many goals that everyone thought about that.
"We started the season and Yaya knows he must improve every game and he is trying to do it. I don't have any concern about him. He is one of the best midfielders, without any doubt."
City were frustrated for long spells at Villa Park by the hosts' committed defending but Pellegrini felt the victory was deserved.
City had earlier hit the woodwork twice, through Aleksandar Kolarov and Aguero.
Pellegrini said: "I don't know if the word is relieved. We deserved to win before the goal. We had a lot of clear chances to score.
"I think we played the best game of the season in (terms of) possession, chances, the way we defended, intensity, the way we recovered the ball and the way we work."
The result also applied pressure to leaders Chelsea, who are in action against Arsenal on Sunday.
"Always the title will be decided by one or two points," Pellegrini said. "We cannot do anything about Chelsea but we can do what we did today."
The downside for City was the loss of midfielder Fernandinho, who limped off just before the hour and will now be assessed.
"We will see (on Sunday) with the doctor," Pellegrini said. "He has a problem with his hamstring."
Villa boss Paul Lambert felt his side acquitted themselves well against difficult opposition.
He said: "For 82 minutes we were in it and Kieran (Richardson) had a really good chance after they hit the post. That is how tight it is.
"When you play against these sides, if you get a chance you have to take it.
"For 82 minutes, the lads were excellent, they did really well, but the two lads that scored the goals are top players themselves."
The defeat was Villa's third in succession after previous losses to Arsenal and Chelsea.
That run has taken the gloss off what had been a bright start to the season but, given the toughness of the opposition, Lambert was not downbeat.
He said: "Today I thought we were well in it against a team I think will be close to winning it."
One positive for Villa was the return of striker Christian Benteke as a substitute after six months out with a ruptured Achilles.
"He played half an hour," Lambert said. "It is great for the club, his team-mates and himself to get back playing. There were little glimpses there that he will be back to his best soon."
Lambert also confirmed that captain Gabriel Agbonlahor pulled out of the game after feeling unwell during the warm-up.
"The doctor saw him and sent him home," the Scot said. "We will see how he is on Monday."
Source: PA
