City hope to continue their 100% home record, but as most fans know that Middlesbrough are City’s Bogey team and are always likely of an upset.
SGE on Southgate & Hart
Sven talks about Gareth: ‘ In Gareth Southgate, Middlesbrough Football Club have a young manager who is doing very well. He was, and is, a fantastic professional for both club and country and I am not surprised at all that he has gone into club management. He is an intelligent young man who was always very interested in understanding the process of management during his England days’
e then goes on to talk about City’s goalkeeping situation: ‘Joe came on and did well and is knocking very hard on the door,I think Kasper has been doing extremely well but maybe he is not yet the best on crosses. He is big and tall but I was a little afraid of free-kicks and corners against us, with Viduka being such a big, strong forward for Newcastle……I do not know who the best is and if you ask our goalkeeping coach Eric Steele he would say the same. Some of the saves all three were making in training this morning were incredible.’
Manchester City Team News:
City’s striking department is pretty depleted with Bianchi, Vassell and Bojinov all out. Corluka went off injured against Newcastle, but there have been no reports of him missing tomorrow.
Player to watch: Elano Blumer
The Brazilian has magic in there them feet of his.
Middlesbrough Team News:
Middlesbrough will give late fitness tests to strikers Mido and Tuncay Sanli, with Dong-Gook Lee and Tom Craddock on standby to start.
Middlesbrough’s back-up goalkeeper Brad Jones is receiving treatment on his sore thigh.
Player to watch: Julio Arca
Has got a good left foot, and can use it if given time and space.
Match Facts & Stats
Amazingly City did the double over Middlesbrough last season after failing to beat them in the premiership on all 14 occasions, indeed prior to that you have to go back to 7th November 1981 for the last time we beat them in the top flight. But an interesting fact is that we are unbeaten in our last five Premier League fixtures against north-east opposition; conceded just one goal in the process; so maybe the omens are good.
Ref Watch:
Steve Bennett – quite City friendly; although he always remembers to bring his nice yellow and red cards, something which Chris Foy forgot to bring last week against Newcastle when god only knows how Nicky Butt was not cautioned. This is Bennett’s first game this season for City his stats for last season are we won two and lost two of the games; both fair results.
Match Prediction:
City’s class too strong for a Middlesbrough side that do travel particularly well; especially with a shortage of firepower up front. City 2 – 0 Middlesbrough.
MCFC v Birmingham City
City have a further home game after the International break for our first Saturday home 3pm kick off of the season.