Derby loss no mental blow, says Kompany

Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany said his side haven’t suffered mental damage following their 3-2 defeat in the Manchester derby.

Roberto Mancini’s side succumbed to a late Robin van Persie winner to suffer their first defeat of the season at the hands of their bitter rivals and leave them six points adrift of United in the title race.

However, Kompany is determined not to let the defeat get to him and his team-mates, and feels everyone in the City dressing room is now focused on their clash against Newcastle.

“I don’t know anything about psychological blows,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

“Losing on Sunday changes nothing. We lost and we move on to the next game.

“The beauty of football is that you are always challenged, whether you have lost or won, and the next game is always the most important.

“We all know the importance of the (Newcastle) game but I don’t do very well in bad-scenario thinking.

“For me there are so many positives that can happen if we win that game – I can’t think of the other side of that coin.

“We have done it many times before and we need to get back in that mindset. If we do that, good things will come for us.

“Newcastle away is just as difficult as the game we had on Sunday but nothing comes easy in the Premier League.

“It’s a difficult game for us but it’s also a tough one for Newcastle as well.”

Kompany remains in doubt for the game against the Magpies at St James’ Park after limping out of the clash with Manchester United with a groin injury.

“Three days after the injury is a little bit too early to call,” he added.

“It’s a difficult one – I went off because I felt something, so we will see how long it takes me.”