Sunday 31 March 2013

Match Reflection: Manchester City 4 - 0 Newcastle

David Silva scores City's second of the game.

"Kaptain" Kompany returns as City record comfortable win

By Aaron Leggott

Roberto Mancini might have conceded the Premier League title, but his players aren't ready to give up on a strong finish to the season just yet.

Goals from Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure ensured City strolled to victory at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.

And despite a couple of testing efforts from the visitors at the start of the second half, they were deservedly beaten and worries of relegation are increasingly looming upon the Magpies.

Friday 29 March 2013

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Newcastle

Aguero set to return after injury

By Aaron Leggott

After missing the last three weeks of action through injury, City are ready to welcome back Sergio Aguero to the starting eleven after he recovered from the knee problem that kept him out.

There will also be a late fitness test for captain Vincent Kompany, who despite missing the past eight weeks, was picked to represent his country midweek as Belgium beat Macedonia 1-0. 

Considering he was out for so long, the decision taken by the Belgian boss Marc Wilmots hasn't been taken kindly by Roberto Mancini.

Sunday 17 March 2013

Match Reflection: Everton 2 - 0 Manchester City

Osman wonder strike sinks City's title hopes

By Aaron Leggott


It seems that City have all but conceded the title over to rivals Manchester United as yesterday's defeat ensured a 15 point difference between the two teams at the top of the league.

In truth, City did not deserve anything from the game at Goodison Park. With Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany all missing out, our task to win wasn't made any easier at a historically tough place for the Blues to visit.

Everton showed the fight, determination and spirit needed to beat the Champions and spectacular efforts from Leon Osman and Nikica Jelavic ensured City were leaving Merseyside without three points for yet another year.

Thursday 14 March 2013

Match Preview: Everton vs Manchester City

City aim to heap more woes on Goodison faithful

By Aaron Leggott

After last Saturday's calamitous defeat at home to Wigan, Everton go into this game knowing that their chances of European qualification are extremely slim.

With the FA Cup semi final draw pitting City against Chelsea or Manchester United and Wigan against Milwall, it means that Europa League qualification will only be rewarded in the Premier League to the side that finishes 5th.

And on recent form, it is unlikely that Everton will be sitting in that position come May. With Liverpool coming into some great form ahead of the run in and Arsenal also in the mix for the fight to Europe, you'd be a brave man to back David Moyes' side now.

So, with 11 years without a trophy... is this really good enough for Everton? The myth that they are on a penniless budget is exactly that and the Toffee's record against the big boys is nothing short of awful. 

Tuesday 12 March 2013

FA Cup: Top 5 Quarter Finals

By Aaron Leggott

After Saturday's emphatic 5-0 win at home to Barnsley, here are my top five quarter final performance's from City teams from now and in the past.


5: Manchester City 1 - 0 Stoke City. 3rd March 1934

This game will go down as the game which records the highest attendance at a club ground in England to this day. City comfortably beat the Potters 1-0 in front of 84,569 fans and secured a semi final tie against Aston Villa at Leeds Road.


City beat Villa 6-1 (familiar scoreline, hey?!) and ended up fulfilling club captain Sam Cowan's promise that the Blues would win the trophy after failing at the final hurdle the season before, thanks to goals from Fred Tilson which secured a 2-1 victory for City against Portsmouth.


Monday 11 March 2013

Match Reflection: Manchester City 5 - 0 Barnsley

Emphatic win secures potential Manchester derby in semi final

By Aaron Leggott

Clinical, deadly, effective. These are just some of the superlatives that can be used to describe City's emphatic quarter final triumph against Barnsley on Saturday night as Carlos Tevez grabbed his fifth hat trick in English football. 

Without a goal conceded in the FA Cup campaign so far, City were extremely hopeful of dismantling a Barnsley side struggling at the bottom of the Championship, and they certainly gave the visitors no hope of a miracle almost immediately.

Friday 8 March 2013

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Barnsley

A potential banana skin for the Champions?

By Aaron Leggott

Barnsley make their first visit to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to face English champions Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter final.

It is the first meeting between the sides since September 2004, when a City side that included the likes of Paul Bosvelt and Willo Flood pushed Barnsley aside with ease after an emphatic 7-1 win in the League Cup.

Wednesday 6 March 2013

Match Reflection: Villa 0 - 1 Manchester City

Tevez wins the game for City in scrappy encounter

By Aaron Leggott

A mistake from Villa defender Ciaran Clark cost the home side dearly on Monday night as City took advantage to keep the gap at the top of the league at just 12 points.

Before kick off, City knew that anything less than a win was not good enough with United beating Norwich on Saturday. Roberto Mancini made just one change to the side that beat Chelsea, with Carlos Tevez replacing Sergio Aguero, who picked up a knee injury in training.

Sunday 3 March 2013

Match Preview: Aston Villa vs Manchester City

City look to add to Villa's relegation fears

By Aaron Leggott

After United's 4-0 victory at home to Norwich yesterday, City will be travelling to Villa Park tomorrow night with hopes of shortening United's lead back to 12 points.