Johnson scored the winner shortly after being introduced from the bench
By Phil Dawkes
Manchester City were not at their best but secured a hard-fought win over a spirited Newcastle to move second in the Premier League.
City took the lead through a Carlos Tevez penalty after Mike Williamson was deemed to have fouled the Argentine.
But Newcastle, who lost Hatem Ben Arfa to a suspected broken leg, levelled via a close-range Jonas Gutierrez drive.
Substitute Adam Johnson won the game for City shortly after his introduction with a superb low drive.
Despite still being four points behind
Chelsea, who beat Arsenal in the day's late kick-off,
the victory did move City second in the table - a sign that a spending spree that led to the club announcing a 12-month £121m loss on Friday might be beginning to show a return.
In their previous league match, City produced an impressive display to beat Chelsea 1-0 but they were unable to reach such heights against a disciplined Newcastle side, who will feel their efforts deserved greater reward.
Kidd pleased after 'ugly' win
But City's money has given them a talented squad that can start with the likes of eventual match-winner Johnson on the bench, which is a luxury Newcastle cannot afford.
This was demonstrated early on when the visitors lost Ben Arfa - who has impressed since joining on loan from Marseille following a strong challenge from Nigel De Jong.
They would also lose centre-back Fabricio Coloccini to a groin injury before half-time.
When the game restarted following Ben Arfa's injury, City quickly took control and were ahead in the 17th minute when Tevez improved upon his record of having scored half his side's goals this season with a fiercely struck penalty.
The awarding of the spot-kick itself was a controversial decision by referee Martin Atkinson, who judged that Williamson had fouled Tevez in the box when it appeared he had got a toe to the ball.
But Newcastle rallied and were firstly denied an equaliser when Joe Hart tipped Coloccini's long-range drive past the post before a superb strike from Gutierrez drew them level.
Gutierrez's initial cross was blocked by Kolo Toure but the Argentine winger collected the loose ball in the box and blasted a powerful rising shot past Hart from 10 yards.
For the remainder of the half, the industrious Newcastle were the better side but the chances fell to City, with Gareth Barry wasting the best of them when he was found in space on the right but firstly delayed his cross before eventually allowing Newcastle to block his poorly directed attempt.
The visitors were similarly industrious at the beginning at the start of the second half but only had a wayward effort from Wayne Routledge to show for it.
City looked dangerous when they broke and Tim Krul was kept busy by a powerful angled drive from Tevez and a low cross from half-time substitute Emmanuel Adebayor.
In search of something fresh, Mancini introduced Johnson - who the manager recently suggested should work harder to earn a place in the starting line-up - for Barry and the change paid immediate dividend.
Hughton bemoans penalty decisions
In the 72nd minute, the England winger collected the ball on the right and weaved through two challenges before unleashing a rasping low drive that found the bottom corner of the net.
However, in keeping with their overall performance, Newcastle refused to lie down and maybe should have been given the chance to level from the spot when Ameobi appeared to be fouled by Joleon Lescott only for Atkinson to wave away the protests.
Newcastle would have one further chance to salvage something from the game, but Williamson was unable to direct his header from a corner on goal.
Manchester City assistant manager Brian Kidd: "Adam [Johnson] is always capable of producing something like that.
"The great thing was the response from players. The players weren't happy at half-time and it's great to see their hunger. The players are setting their own standards now.
"Hopefully if we can win games like this we can be in contention [for the title] at the end of season."
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton: "We set the team up to play against their quality but key decisions went against us.
"My first impression was that it [the Tevez incident] was not a penalty, and that has not changed. The touch [by Mike Willamson] on the ball was outside the penalty box, and that was confirmed when we saw the replay at half-time. It was a dreadful decision on the same side as the linesman.
"Ameobi had his standing foot taken away from him, Lescott loses his footing, and it's an absolute penalty.
"We're pushing to get an equaliser and I can't fault the attitude of the players but we need things to go for us - and those two dreadful decisions have gone against us."
90:00+3:27 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+2:53 Unfair challenge on James Milner by Cheik Tiote results in a free kick. Patrick Vieira restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+1:14 The referee gives a free kick against Emmanuel Adebayor for handball. Sol Campbell restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:13 Cheik Tiote challenges Nigel De Jong unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Hart.
89:04 Jonas Gutierrez sends in a cross, Vincent Kompany makes a clearance.
88:17 Shot by Joleon Lescott from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
87:40 Wayne Routledge produces a cross, Joe Hart makes a save.
86:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jerome Boateng on Joey Barton. Sanchez Jose Enrique restarts play with the free kick.
85:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Perch by Emmanuel Adebayor. Cheik Tiote restarts play with the free kick.
85:05 Substitution Patrick Vieira comes on in place of Carlos Tevez.
84:57 David Silva produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
84:45 Cheik Tiote concedes a free kick for a foul on James Milner. David Silva restarts play with the free kick.
83:39 Jonas Gutierrez gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Milner. Direct free kick taken by James Milner.
81:39 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Joey Barton, Mike Williamson produces a header from inside the area that goes over
the bar.
80:42 Joey Barton takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Vincent Kompany.
79:11 Andrew Carroll gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jerome Boateng. Joe Hart takes the direct free kick.
78:09 Adam Johnson takes a shot. Save made by Tim Krul.
77:30 Unfair challenge on Adam Johnson by Joey Barton results in a free kick. Jerome Boateng takes the free kick.
75:57 Substitution Andrew Carroll on for Kevin Nolan.
75:47 Shot by Kevin Nolan from outside the box goes over the net.
74:40 The assist for the goal came from James Milner.
74:40 GOAL - Adam Johnson:Man City 2 - 1 Newcastle Adam Johnson fires in a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Man City 2-1 Newcastle.
73:50 Emmanuel Adebayor takes a shot. Clearance made by Mike Williamson.
73:22 Jonas Gutierrez takes a shot. Save by Joe Hart.
72:45 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Perch by Emmanuel Adebayor. Free kick crossed right-footed by Joey Barton
from right wing, Nigel De Jong makes a clearance.
Correction - 71:39 Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Joey Barton.
Correction - 71:39 Substitution Adam Johnson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gareth Barry.
Correction - 71:39 Gareth Barry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Shola Ameobi.
71:39 Joey Barton has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
71:39 Substitution Adam Johnson joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gareth Barry.
71:39 Shola Ameobi fouled by Gareth Barry, the ref awards a free kick.
67:36 Centre by Wayne Routledge.
66:25 Emmanuel Adebayor is caught offside. Tim Krul takes the free kick.
61:33 The assistant referee signals for offside against Emmanuel Adebayor. Tim Krul takes the indirect free kick.
60:23 Free kick awarded for a foul by Emmanuel Adebayor on Sanchez Jose Enrique. Tim Krul restarts play with the free kick.
59:35 The ball is crossed by Emmanuel Adebayor, save made by Tim Krul.
54:48 Carlos Tevez takes a shot. Save made by Tim Krul.
53:40 The ball is sent over by Jonas Gutierrez, Wayne Routledge has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the
target.
51:31 Gnegneri Toure Yaya fouled by Cheik Tiote, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Nigel De Jong.
50:11 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by David Silva, Mike Williamson manages to make a clearance.
45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
Half Time
45:00+5:20 The half-time whistle blows.
45:00+4:37 Jerome Boateng takes a shot from long range which goes wide of the right-hand post.
45:00+4:16 Nigel De Jong fouled by Kevin Nolan, the ref awards a free kick. Vincent Kompany takes the direct free kick.
45:00+1:03 Corner taken by Joey Barton from the left by-line to the near post, Gareth Barry manages to make a clearance.
44:39 Corner taken by David Silva from the left by-line, Sol Campbell makes a clearance.
43:54 Jonas Gutierrez concedes a free kick for a foul on James Milner. Free kick crossed left-footed by David Silva, clearance made
by Mike Williamson.
41:29 Shola Ameobi has shot on goal from a long way out that goes wide left.
40:33 Tim Krul restarts play with the free kick.
40:33 Booking Booking for Carlos Tevez.
40:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Carlos Tevez on Tim Krul.
38:23 Free kick crossed by Joey Barton.
38:23 Booking Caution for Jerome Boateng.
38:18 Jerome Boateng gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonas Gutierrez.
34:20 Direct free kick taken by Tim Krul.
34:20 Substitution Sol Campbell comes on in place of Fabricio Coloccini.
34:20 Gnegneri Toure Yaya challenges Cheik Tiote unfairly and gives away a free kick.
33:12 Jerome Boateng handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sanchez Jose Enrique.
33:04 The ball is crossed by David Silva, clearance made by Mike Williamson.
31:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joey Barton by Gnegneri Toure Yaya. Joey Barton takes the direct free kick.
28:45 Shola Ameobi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Milner. Joe Hart takes the free kick.
28:17 James Milner has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide left of the goal.
25:32 Free kick taken by Sanchez Jose Enrique.
25:32 Booking Kolo Toure is given a yellow card.
25:24 Kolo Toure concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonas Gutierrez.
23:30 GOAL - Jonas Gutierrez:Man City 1 - 1 Newcastle Jonas Gutierrez grabs a goal from inside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Man City 1-1 Newcastle.
23:02 The referee blows for offside. James Perch takes the free kick.
Correction - 23:02 Carlos Tevez is caught offside. Tim Krul takes the free kick.
Correction - 22:49 Joey Barton decides to take a short corner.
22:49 James Milner decides to take a short corner.
22:29 Shot from 25 yards from Fabricio Coloccini. Save by Joe Hart.
21:55 Jonas Gutierrez restarts play with the free kick.
21:55 Booking Fabricio Coloccini goes into the referee's book.
21:47 Foul by Nigel De Jong on Jonas Gutierrez, free kick awarded.
19:58 James Milner crosses the ball.
17:17 GOAL - Carlos Tevez:Man City 1 - 0 Newcastle Penalty taken right-footed by Carlos Tevez and scored. Man City 1-0 Newcastle.
16:15 Booking Mike Williamson is given a yellow card.
16:11 Unfair challenge on Carlos Tevez by Mike Williamson results in a Penalty.
12:33 Corner taken short by James Milner.
12:18 Short corner worked by David Silva.
10:42 Shot from 25 yards by James Milner. Blocked by Fabricio Coloccini.
9:09 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Milner by Kevin Nolan. Joleon Lescott restarts play with the free kick.
8:22 James Milner is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Mike Williamson restarts play with the free kick.
7:21 Carlos Tevez is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Tim Krul restarts play with the free kick.
2:51 Joleon Lescott takes the direct free kick.
2:51 Substitution (Newcastle) makes a substitution, with Wayne Routledge coming on for Hatem Ben Arfa.
2:51 Foul by Cheik Tiote on James Milner, free kick awarded.
Correction - 1:01 Joleon Lescott is caught offside. Free kick taken by Tim Krul.
1:01 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Tim Krul.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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