City’s crucial month continues apace with the arrival of bogey side Sunderland in a League Cup Final dress rehearsal…
Vital Quotes:
Manuel Pellegrini:
‘This week will not make or break our season. We need three points against Sunderland, a good first leg against Barcelona and a win in the FA Cup – but we must play very well in all of those games to get the results we want.’
Gus Poyet:
‘We are a quite unexpected team. Away from home we have been doing well. It’s a big opportunity. We are going to play to win the game. If we do well, I am sure that we will go with a different attitude into the league cup final. It will be important for the players.’
Manchester City Team News:
OUT:
Sergio Agüero
Javier García
Fernandinho
Samir Nasri
Matija Nastasić
Player to watch: Yaya Touré
Out of sorts and carrying a bad back which saw him almost drop out of the game at Norwich, the giant Ivorian has been pilloried by media and City obsessed Jaguar car ambassadors masquerading as Chelsea managers alike for a moment of petulance at Carrow Road which hardly registered on the richter scale. Has shown a propensity to underperform against sides in the bottom half of the table and right now The Blues can ill afford another collective no show. He will be key to securing three invaluable points.
Sunderland Team News:
OUT:
Wes Brown
Carlos Cuellar
Steven Fletcher
Keiren Westwood
Player to watch: Adam Johnson
Who else? With a raft of assassins representing a clear and present danger to a City squad already beset by crucial injuries, AJ remains Sunderland’s creative source and will need to be shepherded by City’s full backs as he continues to up his game in search of an England World Cup squad place. He has scored 6 goals and made 2 assists so far in 2014.
Match Facts & Stats
THE NUMBERS GAME:
The Black Cats have failed to win at City in 9 attempts since a 1-0 win in 1998.
The Mackems are unbeaten in their last 6 away league fixtures having won 3 and drawn 3.
City remain the top flight’s top home goalscorers having hit 42 goals in 12 games.
HEAD TO HEAD
League: 57 City Wins, 21 Draws, 47 Sunderland Wins
FA Cup: 4 City Wins, 2 Draws, 2 Sunderland Wins
League Cup: 0 City Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Sunderland Win
Other Cup: 1 City Win, 0 Draws, 0 Sunderland Wins
Total: 62 City Wins, 24 Draws, 50 Sunderland Wins
THIS COULD BE THE LAST TIME:
Su 10Nov 2013 Sunderland 1 – 0 Man City PL
We 26Dec 2012 Sunderland 1 – 0 Man City PL
Sa 06Oct 2012 Man City 3 – 0 Sunderland PL
Sa 31Mar 2012 Man City 3 – 3 Sunderland PL
Su 01Jan 2012 Sunderland 1 – 0 Man City PL
Su 03Apr 2011 Man City 5 – 0 Sunderland PL
Betting: City 1/7 Draw 13/2 Sunderland 16 Racing Post Soccerbase
FORM LAST 6 GAMES ALL COMPETITIONS:
Sunderland: DLWWWL
City: WWWWLD
CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS AND FOLLOW THE GAME LIVE IN THE VMC FORUM
TV COVERAGE:
LiveOnSat.com
mcfcofficial: Pellegrini Sunderland Press Conference
Ref Watch:
Lee Probert from Wiltshire
– Last Season: Sa 06Oct 2012 Man City 3 – 0 Sunderland PL , Sa 01Dec 2012 Man City 1 – 1 Everton PL , Sa 16Mar 2013 Everton 2 – 0 Man City PL– This Season: Su 25Aug 2013 Cardiff 3 – 2 Man City PL-2012/13: 34 Games, 105 Yellows, 6 Reds. -2013/14: 19 Games, 32 Yellows, 5 Reds.
Match Prediction:
Johnny On The Spot:
The importance of this game for Manchester City cannot be emphasised enough. Sunderland’s recent resurgence was checked at home to Hull and The Blues must now seek to capitalise upon that setback in order to get their own winning momentum back on track after defeat to Chelsea and an uninspiring, bobbins performance at Norwich. A lengthy injury list including in-form players could not have come at a worse time and City’s squad depth has been sorely tested. Last week it came up short. The urgency and high tempo pressing and passing game that has become Manuel Pellegrini’s trademark had been arrested, but I’m predicting City will reassert themselves with a moral restoring win against a Sunderland side who are not flirting with relegation without good reason. In City’s case, you don’t become a poor team overnight. City 4 Sunderland 0
Next Fixtures:
all times East Manchester GMT
Sa 15Feb 17h15 Chelsea, The Etihad, FAC5
Tu 18Feb 19h45 FC Barcelona, CL
Sa 22Feb 15h00 Stoke City, The Etihad PL
Su 02Mar 14h00 Sunderland, Wembley, LCF