English Premier League: Man City spy chance to creep up on United

Barry says the club is hitting top form as they face QPR tonight.

LONDON: Having trailed Premier League leaders Manchester United by seven points as recently as January 18, Manchester City can cut the gap to just two points with victory at QPR tonight.

United would be able to restore their advantage by beating Southampton tomorrow, but City’s trip to the league’s bottom club gives them an opportunity to inject tension into a title race that had looked set to become a procession.

City won 1-0 at Stoke City on Saturday to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup, but victory came at a cost as captain Vincent Kompany was forced off in the first half with a calf injury.

The English champions have ruled Kompany out of the trip to QPR, leaving manager Roberto Mancini with Matija Nastasic and Joleon Lescott as his only available senior centre-backs.

“We won the FA Cup two years ago and we want to win it again but now we will focus on tonight and QPR because we want to keep winning and hopefully catch United,” said Mancini.

Meanwhile, City midfielder Gareth Barry feels the defending champions are hitting top form ahead of their clash against QPR.

“We’re back to our league-winning form,” said Barry. “The gap (to United) was there, so we can’t afford to let that grow any more if we want to end up champions again, so the lads have really knuckled down.”

On the other hand, QPR are five points adrift of safety with 15 games remaining and manager Harry Redknapp will recall his most important players for City’s visit after making nine changes against MK Dons.

United will watch the encounter at Loftus Road with interest, as they embark upon a period of matches that could define their season.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2013.