City go into this home fixture looking to uphoald their unbeaten home record without conceeding a goal. This will be a very hard ask as the team shipped four goals away to Wigan last week and City having failed to beat Boro in 14 premiership attemps.
Vital Quotes:
Stuart Pearce has stated ‘I was very, very pleased with the players` attitude coming in on Tuesday. I`ve been around a lot of clubs that have suffered defeats and one or two players want to throw in little injuries here and there, I`ve not seen that here this week, all I`ve seen is six players come out of the treatment room and want to be available for Monday night – so that`s encouraging for me.’ He also went on to say “Everyone is pulling in the same direction. Everyone wants the same thing.”
Manchester City Team News:
Sylvain Distin, Daruis Vassell, Nedum Onuoha, Hatem Trabelsi and DaMarcus Beasley should be fit after injuries. City are still with long term injuries Dabo and Isaksson. Ben Thatcher is also likely to get his first start after his 8 game suspension due to the shocking form of Stephen Jordan
Player to watch: Hatem Trabelsi
Should provide some much needed pace and creativity to the team should he play.
Middlesbrough Team News:
Boro have Viduka and Ehiogu definitely out but doubts over match fitness of Christie and Riggott.
Player to watch: Aiyegbeni Yakubu
Adds strength and pace to the boro frontline and is accustomed to finding the net regularily; especially against City.
Match Facts & Stats
City have to go back to December 1997 the last time they beat Boro thanks to a penalty from Uwe Rosler and another first half goal from the evergreen Paul Dickov. Last season’s corresponding fixture ended 1-0 to Boro, young Lee Cattermole scoring the winner. The season before saw the 1-1 draw and Fowler missing THAT penalty to allow Boro into the UEFA cup.
Ref Watch:
Howard Webb: Generally a good ref; but had a poor game for City last month away to Reading where he harshly sent Dabo off.
Match Prediction:
City will be lucky to get a draw from this fixture. City to lose their unbeaten home record, Boro to win 1-0.
Next Fixtures:
Charlton – a happy hunting ground for City.