English Premier League: We won’t remain unbeaten, says City manager

Mancini delighted after Newcastle win, plays down talk of staying undefeated.

MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists his Premier League leaders will not go through the entire season undefeated despite their 3-1 victory over previously unbeaten Newcastle.

Mancini’s team are the only remaining undefeated side in the top-flight and their impressive run of 11 wins and one draw from the opening 12 games is a Premier League record.

However, Mancini was quick to play down comparisons with the great Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ side of 2003-04 that went unbeaten through the 38-game league campaign.

“I hope we continue like this,” he said. “But I think in the 26 games we have left, we’ll reach a time when we lose a game, I’m sure of it.

“We’ve improved a lot. As as a team, we’re very strong now but the season is long and there’ll be difficult moments ahead. That’s why it’s important we know we can score goals and win games in a row.”

Mancini also picked out Mario Balotelli for special praise, who scored the opener with a penalty before Micah Richards and Sergio Aguero put City 3-0 ahead. Dan Gosling scored a last-minute consolation goal for Alan Pardew’s side.

“It was fabulous,” said Mancini of the Balotelli penalty. “It’s impossible that Mario will ever miss a penalty. He is a great player.”

Fergie lauds defence

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson praised Manchester United’s defenders’ resolve as they held on to beat a determined Swansea side 1-0.

United scored early with Javier Hernandez sliding home his fifth goal of the season.  Thereafter, the hosts kept attacking United, but the visitors’ defence stood firm.

Ferguson lauded his men’s battling display.

“Keeping clean sheets has been an integral part of our success and we’ve been careless with our defending,” he said. “But this was a solid performance. We were comfortable and had good possession. We’ve tightened things up.”

‘Blackburn goal was scandalous’

Manager Roberto Martinez was fuming after Wigan Athletic conceded a 99th-minute goal to draw 3-3 at home to Blackburn Rovers.

It was not the stoppage-time penalty that incensed him, however, but Blackburn’s second goal. Rovers striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni placed the ball down for a corner, appeared to fake a kick and Morten Gamst Pedersen then dribbled into the area unopposed before crossing for Junior Hoilett to score.

“I think it’s scandalous,” said Martinez of the referee’s failure to spot the infringement. “It’s all too easy to give a decision against Wigan. You would need to be a magician to make that decision [that Yakubu had touched the ball].”

Elsewhere, Bolton remained in the relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat at West Brom. Everton eased away from the bottom three courtesy a 2-1 defeat of Wolves, Queens Park Rangers won 3-2 at Stoke City, and Sunderland drew 0-0 with Fulham.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2011.