Football: Newcastle face acid test against City

Premie­r League’s only remain­ing unbeat­en teams lock horns today.

LONDON: Newcastle United’s flying start to the season faces the acid test today as the Magpies travel to leaders Manchester City in a battle of the Premier League’s only remaining unbeaten teams.

Manager Alan Pardew’s resurgent Newcastle have been the revelation of the season so far, accumulating 25 points from 11 games to lie in third place, their best start to a campaign since 1995-1996.

Pardew insists his team is relishing the challenges ahead.

“Belief comes from results as much as anything,” said Pardew. “I genuinely think the team believes it can win every game it enters. We will go to Manchester City thinking we can win.”

Newcastle may benefit should manager Roberto Mancini choose to rest several of his first choice starting-eleven with an eye on next Tuesday’s crucial Champions League match with Napoli.

United look to close gap on title rivals

Any dropped points from City – who have won 10 of their 11 games so far this season -–will be gratefully received by cross-town rivals Manchester United, who are aiming to close the gap with victory at newly-promoted Swansea.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to have Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley available for selection after injury.

United midfielder Darren Fletcher has meanwhile warned his teammates against taking the Swans lightly.

“They play football in the right way and have been a breath of fresh air since coming into the Premier League. It’s going to be a real
challenge for us,” said Fletcher.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will be chasing their fifth consecutive victory at Norwich, with manager Arsene Wenger challenging his side to keep building on their recent improvements in form.

Wenger believes Arsenal’s resurgence has been down to a more conservative approach.

“I’d say we are a bit more controlled and less cavalier,” said Wenger. “We are less adventurous when the job is done.”

Tevez won’t play for City again: Mancini

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has reiterated his belief that troublesome Argentine striker Carlos Tevez will not play for the club again. The 27-year-old flew to Argentina without the club’s permission last week, further straining already tense relations after the furore following claims he refused to go on as a substitute during a Champions League match with Bayern Munich. City found Tevez guilty of five breaches of contract for refusing to warm up in that match.

Tevez was then suspended for two weeks and had a four-week fine halved after the intervention of the Professional Footballers Association. Asked if Tevez could play for the club again, Mancini replied, “I don’t think so.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th,  2011.