Match Reflection: Manchester City 2 - 3 Norwich

Norwich win adds to a miserable week for City

By Aaron Leggott

A compelling final day encounter between Manchester City and Norwich left a bitter taste in the mouth of City fans following a 3-2 defeat at home to the Canaries.

City pegged Norwich back twice during the game before Jonny Howson scored what proved to be the winner on 65 minutes with a superb solo effort.

Jack Rodwell scoring his second goal against Norwich
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Interim manager Brian Kidd, who made five changes to the team that beat Reading on Tuesday night, expressed his happiness that a difficult week at the club has finally come to an end.

"It's been an emotional week with the events at the club. Full credit to the lads, they've all got stuck in and you can't ask for anymore than that."

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Wigan Athletic

City head to London in hope of second FA Cup in three years

By Aaron Leggott

Any other year, the FA Cup Final would be the main focus through all media organisations as the world's oldest cup competition reaches it's finale at Wembley - but this year is different.

Of course, the news of Alex Ferguson retiring as manager of Manchester United has led headlines, but this game could prove pivotal in the future of Roberto Mancini as his team get ready to face Wigan in the final. 

Can Yaya repeat his Wembley heroics once again?
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On paper, this is a complete mis-match as relegation favourites Wigan face an uphill task if they want to win the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Their rise from non-league football in 1978 has been admirable, and it is a great occasion for fans who have been Latics fans since the beginning. 

Match Reflection: Manchester City 1 - 0 West Brom

Dzeko secures Champions League football for third successive year

By Aaron Leggott

Edin Dzeko's 13th league goal of the season ensured Manchester City were to reach the Champions League for a third successive season following a hard fought win at home to West Brom.

Dzeko, who has been slated for his recent performances, silenced his critics with a fine effort in the 35th minute.

Edin Dzeko fires in City's only goal against West Brom
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The opener was against the run of play after the Baggies started well and should have been ahead early on. Romelu Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, was causing problems to a makeshift Manchester City defence which saw Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott make rare appearances. 

Manchester City 2 - 1 West Ham: Thoughts and Ratings

By Aaron Leggott

My thoughts

Superb goals from Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure gave us a comfortable 2-1 victory on Saturday against West Ham and in truth, we were rarely tested throughout the 90 minutes.

The first half started as I expected, with City having the majority of the ball - whilst West Ham seemingly employed a formation of damage limitation. Their season is all but over and Sam Allardyce knows that his team were extremely unlikely of getting a result, so why didn't they just go for it?

Obviously against the Blues you need to find a sensible formation which allows you to attack and defend otherwise we'd just rip you on the counter attack - but the Hammers just sat back and let us play, which I think is the worst thing you can do.

Carlos Tevez in action against his former club. See what rating I gave him below.
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Just look at the teams who have given us problems this season. Dortmund, Southampton, Liverpool - all three employed a system of high pressure and quick counter attacking football, and it worked. 

Match Reflection: Manchester City 2 - 1 West Ham

Superb Yaya Toure goal secures three points

By Aaron Leggott

Despite it being almost a whole calendar year since we beat Queens Park Rangers in the final game of last season, the team named by Roberto Mancini to play West Ham was identical to the XI that won the title in dramatic fashion.

Think of this what you will, but it is a bold statement from the Italian to show just how little we strengthened last summer and despite the capture of teenage sensation Matija Nastasic - a lot of the purchases by the club were clearly inadequate for a successful title challenge.

Yaya Toure celebrates scoring City's second goal against West Ham
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However, this City team, who have only dropped seven points at the Etihad Stadium this season, produced a performance similar to those deserving of them becoming league champions last season.

Tottenham 3 - 1 Manchester City: Thoughts and Ratings

By Aaron Leggott

My thoughts

It was probably a good idea to leave this post to today because I was extremely frustrated at some individuals yesterday following the defeat.

I shall not name anybody but I was extremely disappointed to see some of the overreactions from Manchester City fans. Of course, everybody is allowed their opinion but when I am seeing people who are supposedly willing to create "hate societies" for certain members of our squad then I am incredibly bemused.

One person who was targetted specifically yesterday was a certain Bosnian named Edin Dzeko. Now, let me get this straight - I am not his biggest fan at all. In fact, I have been one of his biggest critics this season for his inability to win headers consistently.

Carlos Tevez was my City MoTM, click "Read More" underneath to see why
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Manchester City 1 - 0 Wigan: Thoughts and Ratings

By Aaron Leggott

My thoughts

We were far from our best yesterday and I think we were extremely fortunate to finish the game with a win. Wigan really impressed me last night and Roberto Martinez has proven that if used correctly the 3-5-2 formation is one of the best in the business.

In truth, as soon as I saw the starting line-up I was sceptical as to how easy this game was going to be. With Javi Garcia and Gareth Barry playing in holding midfield roles, I knew that we were going to be run over by Jordi Gomez, James McCarthy and Shaun Maloney and I was proven right.

Edin Dzeko tussles with the Wigan defence
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I don't know why Mancini persists with picking Barry and Garcia in the same team because it just doesn't work. They are both too slow and you need some pace and energy, especially against a team like Wigan. For this reason, I'd have started James Milner alongside either Barry or Garcia.

Match Reflection: Manchester City 1 - 0 Wigan

City scrape past Wigan despite unconvincing performance

By Aaron Leggott

Game winner Carlos Tevez in action against Wigan
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A superb solo goal from Carlos Tevez ensured City grabbed their eighth win in nine and continued their impressive run against Wigan in recent years.

The Blues have now won seven games in a row without conceding, but this performance was probably the most unconvincing yet and the visitors will be wondering how they left the Etihad empty handed.

Manchester Utd 1 - 2 Manchester City: Thoughts and Ratings

My thoughts

This performance reminded me of the City of last season. It was a committed and determined performance from the team and you could tell that they wanted this more than United. 

I was surprised at Ferguson's selection before the match as he opted with a midfield of Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Ashley Young. He once again picked the wrong team for a big match and this was where the game was won on Monday. You'd have thought that United would have wanted to extend their gap to 18 points but they were just lethargic.

Their fans will argue that the league is all wrapped up now (which it probably is) but if the tables were turned and City put in a performance like that despite being 15 points ahead - I'd be extremely disappointed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Match Reflection: Manchester City 2 - 0 Chelsea

City put in top performance to take the spoils

By Aaron Leggott

It was dubbed the biggest match of our season so far, and the players certainly delivered. In a must win game, two incredible goals from Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez secured the three points for Roberto Mancini's men to keep our extremely slim title hopes alive.

In all honesty, City deserved the victory and showed that they wanted victory more than Chelsea, with the visitors only real chance coming from a Frank Lampard penalty.

Saved! Joe Hart keeps out Frank Lampard with a fine stop
Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images Europe

The penalty was subsequently saved by Joe Hart as City were very nearly made to pay for their wastefulness in the first half, as Jack Rodwell put in a magnificent performance in his first start since returning from injury.

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Chelsea

Kompany still injured ahead of biggest game this season

By Aaron Leggott

Despite a 4-0 win at home to Leeds last weekend, City go into this game on the back of some poor recent league form. 

Picking up just two points from a possible nine has put United in a great position to take the title away from the Blues, and if Mancini's men can't grab a win tomorrow, it will result in the worst run of league form since November 2009, when the club went on a run of seven consecutive draws in the Premier League.

Match Reflection: Manchester City 4 - 0 Leeds

Competent performance sees City qualify

By Aaron Leggott

Goals from Yaya Toure, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero secured a comfortable route into the FA Cup quarter finals for City yesterday as the Blues swooped past Leeds with consummate ease.

The tie was arguably over within just 15 minutes when Aguero calmly finished from 12 yards after being fouled just moments before by Tom Lees, doubling City's advantage following Yaya Toure's opener 10 minutes previously.

Goal! Aguero was my man of the match today after scoring twice
Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe

The Leeds showing was a performance which the travelling fans did not deserve, as the 6,000 strong support stuck behind their team, even if their manager didn't get similar recognition.

Chants of "Warnock Warnock time to go" could clearly be heard throughout the second half as the United faithful become increasingly disillusioned at life under Warnock at the helm.

But as poorly as Leeds played, you cannot take away the praise that City's play deserved. It is a rare occasion to see Roberto Mancini's side come out of the blocks so quickly, but this is perhaps a determined side looking to push on after the humiliating performance at Southampton.

Reflection: Five star City claim top spot

Aguero fires back at City critics
Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images Europe

City 5 - 0 Aston Villa

By Archie Barnett

Manchester City, a club in crisis. After only 11 games gone, City were second in the league, yet labelled a club in crisis.

Of course, there seems to be a Champions League exit on the horizon, barring a miracle, but does that really warrant the media reaction we have been receiving?

However, after a prosperous weekend for the Blues, where both Manchester United and Chelsea lost against Norwich and West Brom respectively, those same critics seem to have been very quiet as City claimed top spot off our neighbours for the first time since lifting the trophy in May.

So, where have those critics gone? There were many that were justified in saying we were not at our best, but a brilliant 5-0 victory over Aston Villa seemed to have stopped the ridiculous "club in crisis" and "Mancini out" claims as City look to hit top form.

Manchester City: The season so far

Edin's form is sending chills through defenders across the country.

By Aaron Leggott

After Saturday's win at the Hawthorns, City are sitting pretty in third place after eight games played, but it hasn't been as simple as it looks on paper.

Despite an unbeaten start to the season, there have been many occasions where that record has looked under threat. Performances at Anfield and Craven Cottage pop into mind, where late goals from Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko helped prevent any blushes on Roberto Mancini's part.

G'Edin there! Dzeko's late goals have won City vital points already this season
Photo: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images Europe

And some out of sort Champions League performances has meant that, barring a miracle, City are facing an early exit from the elite competition.

If I was to describe the start to this season, it would be a mixed bag of performances. At times, we have looked unstoppable (Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium comes to mind, in particular), whilst at points we have looked to have been suffering from a title winning hangover.