Off-Colour Man City Welcome West Brom to Eastlands
- By A.D. Winn on February 5, 2011 00:00 GMT
West Brom will prepare for their league match with Manchester City knowing that they have a good chance of upsetting Roberto Mancini’s league title chances.
City haven’t won a game in any competition since their 4-2 Cup replay victory over Leicester back on the 16th Jan. Their dip in form has also seen them start conceding more goals than usual too - in the Premier League alone they’ve let in seven goals in their last three games.
Citizens boss Mancini will stick with under-fire English international Joe Hart in goal, despite the leakiness of the defence in recent games.
“Joe [Hart] is the best in England,” Mancini claimed. “It’s my opinion he is a fantastic goalkeeper who should improve 100 per cent. Maybe sometimes he has lost his concentration but I am very happy with him.
I’m not worried about my goalkeeper. If you look at the Birmingham game, we defended very badly as a team at set-pieces. This was the problem, not just Joe.”
Mancini will be forced to alter his defensive plans due to the unavailability of right-back Micah Richards, who suffered a concussion in the draw with Birmingham in midweek. Also a doubt is tough-tackling midfielder Nigel de Jong who is carrying a ankle knock, however both Yaya and Kolo Toure are expected to be named in the starting 11.
West Brom have history with Man City this season; the Midlands side knocked Mancini’s men out of the League Cup back in September, winning 2-1. City found revenge six weeks later, when two Mario Balotelli goals helped them record a 2-0 away victory when the sides met in the league.
West Brom manager Roberto Di Matteo received a welcome boost in midweek, as leading goalscorer Peter Odemwingie returned to full fitness after injuring an ankle in their last match against Wigan.
Odemwingie is looking to score his tenth goal of the season in the match.
Albion may be without Marek Cech (groin), Graham Dorrans (ankle) and Gonzalo Jara (hamstring).
Premier League 09/10:
n/a
Premier League 10/11:
West Brom 0-2 Man City
