City Talk: No. 1

Is a lack of width City's problem?

By Matt Funge

Something has definitely changed for the blue half of Manchester of late, and it simply couldn’t have come at a worse time. Various media outlets have already started drawing comparisons to the ill-fated Newcastle team of the 1995-96 season, and the feeling that the wheels are coming off City’s title challenge seems to be gathering momentum with every passing day. For some inexplicable reason, the free-flowing Manchester City of pre-Christmas is no longer on show when Mancini’s men travel away from the fortress that is the Etihad Stadium. While the results at home do remain consistently perfect, it must be said that the performances have definitely been of a lower quality in the second half of the campaign than they were in the opening months.

City vs Stoke: Match Report

Crouch's stunning volley puts a dent in City's title race

By Aaron Leggott

Manchester City regained their place at the top of the Premier League after salvaging a point at the Britannia Stadium.

After a very poor first half, it took an absolute stunning effort from Peter Crouch to wake up the visitors, who replied with an unforgettable strike of their own as Yaya Toure's 35 yard effort found the net with 15 minutes remaining.

City vs Chelsea: Match Report

Tevez gives a helping hand to boost City's hopes of a first Premier League title

By Aaron Leggott

Samir Nasri completes the comeback to keep alive our title hopes
(Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe)

It seems that Carlos Tevez loves to make the headlines. After his infamous spat with Roberto Mancini last September, the Argentinian hitman came off the bench to provide a touch of inspiration to keep the title race well and truly on for the Blues.

After Manchester United's victory last weekend, defeat was not an option for the hosts who entertained an in-form Chelsea side, revitalised under the guidance of Roberto di Matteo.

City vs Chelsea: Match Preview

By Aaron Leggott

With ten games to go until the end of the season, things are starting to hot up at the top of the table. Manchester City are fighting for their first ever Premier League title against bitter rivals Manchester United, whilst Chelsea are in a race to grab a top four finish alongside Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea celebrate Frank Lampard's penalty in the reverse fixture
(Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe)

City vs Sporting Lisbon: Match Report

So close yet so far. City show a lot of Hart in a European fightback.

By Aaron Leggott

Our European journey once again came to an end in dramatic circumstances on Thursday night after a 95th minute header from Joe Hart was tipped past the post by Sporting's man between the sticks, Rui Patricio.

Photo: PA

Opinion

Carlos Tevez. To play or not to play?

By Daniel Robertson

Carlos Tevez was close to etching his name among City folklore, nearly up there with Manchester City legends such as Shaun Goater, Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee. The Argentine carried Manchester City to a third place finish in the 2010/2011 season, our highest finish for a very long time. He impressed the City crowd with his work rate, his pace and his spectacular goals. He had it all, but he nearly destroyed his career in one night in the German city of Munich.

Swansea City V Manchester City: Match Report - 11.3.12

By Tom Smart

A defeat for the blues in Swansea saw the City side that has dominated the top of Premier League for the past 5 months, finally lose their lead.

Sporting Lisbon V Manchester City: Match Report

By Tom Smart

The City faithful embarked on their 2^nd trip to Portugal this year after successfully defeating the reigning holders of the Europa League in the form of FC Porto.

Sporting Lisbon vs Manchester City: Match Preview

Manchester City go into this tie on the back of a 2-0 victory over Bolton at The Etihad over the weekend. They face Sporting Lisbon in this Europa League clash after convincingly brushing FC Porto aside 6-1 on aggregate.

The Sky Blue View: New Feature Explained

So, we have just over a massive 800 followers on Twitter, and what better way to thank those followers than an article dedicated to them and their tweets every week?

Here it is explained. To get involved with us, tweet us your views before and after matches. We will involve your pre-match tweets within the match preview, as long as they are tweeted at least 2 hours before the game.

The post-match tweets will get an article to themselves though. If you tweet us after the game with your thoughts, good or bad, we will include them in an article posted after each game.

Why do we do this?

To involve you, our fans. We want maximum interaction with our fans and readers, and it would be great to integrate your tweets in our articles. I'm sure it would be great for you, seeing yourselves mentioned on your fan site.

So, what are you waiting for?

Tweet us with your views on yesterday's clash with Bolton yesterday by using @SkyBlueView and/or #TheSkyBlueView

Thanks, we look forward to hearing from you.

The Sky Blue View

@SkyBlueView and #TheSkyBlueView
NOTE: You can also get involved by posting on the wall of www.facebook.com/TheSkyBlueView

Manchester City vs Bolton Wanderers: Match Report

MCFC 2-0 BWFC

Steinsson (OG) 23', Balotelli 69'

By Archie Barnett (@ArchieeeB)

The teams warm up before the BPL clash

Manchester City started the game 2 points ahead of arch-rivals Manchester United and had the chance to stretch their lead at the top to 5 before the clash between Spurs and United on Sunday.

The two teams shake hands before
the game kicks off

The game promised to be an exciting one as City had the chance to score very early on after a Mario Balotelli strike from a tight angle came of the post before Samir Nasri's rebound was saved by Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan. 

David Pizzaro then played a wonderful defence-splitting to Mario Balotelli, who seemed unsure of whether he was onside or not, resulting in Balotelli slipping and allowing the defenders to catch up. Balotelli did manage to get past the Bolton back line though and his shot lashed wide of the post. 

The deadlock was broken in the 23rd minute after Clichy's strike was deflected into the net off Steinson's head, wrong footing the Wanderers goalkeeper. 

Balotelli was frustrated again, as he was brought down inside the Bolton area by Zat Knight during the first half.

Shortly after on-loan Arsenal winger Ryo Miyaichi tested Joe Hart after he took the ball from Kolo Touré as the Ivory Coast international slipped. Miyaichi's strike was tipped round the post by Manchester City's goalkeeper, resulting in applause from the home fans, after watching the replay several times on the big screens.

City nearly doubled their lead through Balotelli as his strike was saved by Bogdan after Yaya Touré and Vincent Kompany linked on the counter-attack.

City then had another great chance to double the lead after Balotelli was played in behind the Bolton defence, but the Hungarian goalkeeper was again alert to block the Italian's effort.

A crowd of 47,219 witnessed
Manchester City's 2-0 win at The Etihad

City were then denied another penalty as Balotelli was yet again brought down by Knight, and Mario's frustration was clearly starting to shine through. 

Darren Pratley then had a great strike from outside the box, totally beating his own goalkeeper. Fortunately for the Bolton man, the ball hit the bar bounced off the bar, denying Pratley a bizzare own goal.

A great run from Adam Johnson ended in Mario finally getting the goal he deserved. Balotelli couldn't wish for a better opportunity, as Johnson burst in between two Bolton defenders before back heeling the ball to the striker, who popped the ball in for City's second.

In truth, Bolton were lucky to have only conceded two and Mancini will be slightly worried about the lack of finishing early on in the game.

Full time score - Manchester City 2-0  Bolton Wanderers

Attendance - 47,219

The home fans show their support

City vs Bolton: Match Preview

By Aaron Leggott

Once again, City go into a fixture at the Etihad Stadium looking incredible favourites to stroll to victory. The Blues, who don't expect Carlos Tevez to return to full match fitness for at least another fortnight, are now just one victory off 19 successive home league wins, a record which will match a one made by Manchester United in October.

There is nothing but positivity being transmitted around the club at the moment. Whilst United are trying their best to play their usual mind games, City are deciding to do their talking on the pitch, and in an impressive fashion as well. February was a very kind month for the Blues, as we won every game, scoring 13 and conceding just one goal - a great return for any title ambitions we hold.

The same can't be said about our visitors for tomorrow though. Whilst the Wanderers have had a good cup run, their league form has been totally the opposite. Without a win in three, their chances of stopping this run are unlikely, especially considering they haven't even scored in their last three away games.

Added to this, City are unbeaten in their last six games against the Trotters, and haven't conceded a goal at the Etihad against Owen Coyle's men since December 2007 in a 4-2 victory.

So, as you can imagine, both stats and common sense point towards City in this fixture. Owen Coyle is adamant that his side will "try to be positive" but that's much easier said than done at the Etihad this season. With both Kevin and Mark Davies doubts, the situation isn't eased on the under pressure Scottish boss.

It is certain to be an entertaining encounter, with both sides having something to play for. However, I only expect one outcome from this match, which is a very straight forward City win.

3-0 to the Blues.