City look to go top, albeit temporarily
Win over struggling Palace will see them go top on goal difference at least for a few hours
Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winner against Palace in injury time of the reverse fixture to grab all the headlines and will be hoping for a similar impact. PHOTO: AFP
MANCHESTER:
It is a signal of Manchester City’s inconsistency that they have not managed to string together two successive Premier League victories since mid-October.
Yet it is a sign of the division’s unpredictability this season that despite this, Manuel Pellegrini’s side remain just three points off the top as they go into Saturday’s home match against Crystal Palace.
Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at home to mid-table Everton has not proved as costly as it might have done, with leaders Arsenal also dropping points in a 3-3 draw at Liverpool on the same night.
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In addition, City kept a second successive clean sheet, suggesting that their defence is finding some semblance of stability in the continued absence of injured captain Vincent Kompany.
Pellegrini has indicated that he will make some changes for the Palace match, which kicks off less than 66 hours after Wednesday’s game finished, giving little time for his players to recover.
For Pellegrini, whose team go into Saturday’s game lying third, the priority is to regain the league leadership, although he acknowledges that positions only count for so much at this stage of the season.
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“It’s important to try to reduce the gap as soon as we can between ourselves and the two leaders, Arsenal and Leicester, but we are not going to win the title in January,” he said.
“I think it’s important to be solid and consistent from now until the end of the season. There are so many examples of teams that had the title in their hands in April, then lost important points and didn’t win the title.”
Crystal Palace’s results last month, when they were unbeaten in five games, have brought Alan Pardew a nomination for the December Manager of the Month award.
Pellegrini fumes after Man City draw blank
Their form since the turn of the year, however, has been much less impressive, with successive league defeats sandwiching the impressive FA Cup win at Southampton.
This week’s loss at bottom club Aston Villa was particularly painful, especially as Pardew’s side failed to score for a fourth successive league game.
With Yannick Bolasie still sidelined, Palace’s lack of threat up front is a growing cause for concern.
The form book suggests chances should be even harder to find at the Etihad Stadium, but right-back Martin Kelly remains confident.
“You get a little bit more adrenaline playing bigger teams, but nerves are exactly the same,” said Kelly.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2016.
It is a signal of Manchester City’s inconsistency that they have not managed to string together two successive Premier League victories since mid-October.
Yet it is a sign of the division’s unpredictability this season that despite this, Manuel Pellegrini’s side remain just three points off the top as they go into Saturday’s home match against Crystal Palace.
Wednesday’s 0-0 draw at home to mid-table Everton has not proved as costly as it might have done, with leaders Arsenal also dropping points in a 3-3 draw at Liverpool on the same night.
Rooney plans to ruin Klopp's first taste of bitter rivalry
In addition, City kept a second successive clean sheet, suggesting that their defence is finding some semblance of stability in the continued absence of injured captain Vincent Kompany.
Pellegrini has indicated that he will make some changes for the Palace match, which kicks off less than 66 hours after Wednesday’s game finished, giving little time for his players to recover.
For Pellegrini, whose team go into Saturday’s game lying third, the priority is to regain the league leadership, although he acknowledges that positions only count for so much at this stage of the season.
Allen stuns Arsenal as Leicester go joint-top
“It’s important to try to reduce the gap as soon as we can between ourselves and the two leaders, Arsenal and Leicester, but we are not going to win the title in January,” he said.
“I think it’s important to be solid and consistent from now until the end of the season. There are so many examples of teams that had the title in their hands in April, then lost important points and didn’t win the title.”
Crystal Palace’s results last month, when they were unbeaten in five games, have brought Alan Pardew a nomination for the December Manager of the Month award.
Pellegrini fumes after Man City draw blank
Their form since the turn of the year, however, has been much less impressive, with successive league defeats sandwiching the impressive FA Cup win at Southampton.
This week’s loss at bottom club Aston Villa was particularly painful, especially as Pardew’s side failed to score for a fourth successive league game.
With Yannick Bolasie still sidelined, Palace’s lack of threat up front is a growing cause for concern.
The form book suggests chances should be even harder to find at the Etihad Stadium, but right-back Martin Kelly remains confident.
“You get a little bit more adrenaline playing bigger teams, but nerves are exactly the same,” said Kelly.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2016.