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FA Premiership
Saturday 31st March, 3pm kick off
Newcastle United vs. Manchester City

History

City and Newcastle have had a tendency to share out the league points rather evenly over the last few seasons, with neither side holding supremacy over the other in terms of recent win/loss records. City more often than not collect the spoils at COMS, whilst Newcastle have made St James Park a fortress when the Blues come to town. Earlier in the season, the injury hit Magpies frustrated City with a backs to the walls display which earner them a deserved point in a drab 0-0 encounter in Manchester. City have lost on 4 out of their last 5 visits to St James’s Park.

Injury News

City

M Richards – Ankle – Very doubtful

Newcastle

C Babayaro – Hamstring – Very doubtful
S Carr – Thigh – Doubtful
S Ameobi – Hip – Out for the season
M Owen – Knee (ACL) – Out for the season

Team News

Stuart Pearce looks set to make 2 changes to the side that defeated Middlesbrough 2 weeks ago. Nedum Onuoha or Hatem Trabelsi will fill in for Micah Richards at full back after the England defender picked up an ankle injury during his countries midweek victory over Andorra, Michael Johnson is set to keep his place in the staring line-up. Emile Mpenza looks set to shake off the thigh strain that kept him out of Belgium’s World Cup qualifiers this week. After his goal scoring exploits for the England Under 18’s in midweek, Daniel Sturridge may once again feature on the bench.

 

Last Time Out

City – won 2-0 at Middlesbrough – A solid display from the Blues saw them halt a slide of 5 successive Premiership defeats at the expense of an under par Boro side. A predatory strike from Sylvain Distin and Mpenza’s first for the club gave City a well-deserved victory.

Newcastle – lost 2-0 at Charlton. After a midweek exit in the UEFA Cup, Newcastle limply surrendered to the relegation haunted Addicks, which Zhi Zheng and Jerome Thomas giving the home side a deserved victory.

Last 5 Premiership Matches

Manchester City – LLLLW – 3 points from the last 15
Newcastle – LWLDL – 4 points from the last 15

Both sides have struggled for form and points of late and are in danger of slipping towards the bottom 3 again. City showed some resemblance of form in their last match and will be hoping that result will be the start of a good run in. Both clubs seasons have disappointing petered out once again.

Player to Watch

Obafemi Martins – A quicksilver striker with a fantastic shot on him. On his day he is a major threat and is the focal point of the Newcastle United attack.

 

Prediction

On paper, this looks a difficult game to predict. Neither team has played for 2 weeks, both sides are in poor runs of form, both sides have little to play for during the closing months of the season. All the hallmarks of a dull bore fest but for some reason I have a feeling this match could provide a bit of excitement for a change including the likelihood of a goal from ‘French Tony.’

Newcastle 2 City 2

 

Thanks to Grob of ManCityFans.Net For This Preview

You can discuss this and any other City topic in our Forum HERE

 

 

 

 

FA Premiership
Saturday 3rd March at 3pm
Manchester City vs. Wigan Athletic

History

City’s first 3 Premiership meetings with Wigan have all ended in defeat with a total of 9 goals conceded, a dismal record. The last match between the 2 sides resulted in City’s worst performance of this season and a 4-0 trouncing. At the moment, Wigan hold a voodoo sign over the Blues in Premiership competition. The most famous tie between the 2 clubs in the modern era was the 1999 Division 2 play off semi final at Maine Road where City scraped past the Latics following a solitary, and controversial, Shaun Goater strike.

Injury News

City

D Vassell – Ankle – Very Doubtful
T Sinclair – Groin – Has not yet resumed full training
N Onuoha – Hamstring – Has not yet resumed full training
D Mills – Stress Fractured Shin – Still on the sidelines

Wigan

H Camara – Knee – Possible return next week
E Heskey – Groin – Very Doubtful
C Kirkland – Finger – Out for another 4 weeks
A de Zeeuw – Toe – Out for the rest of the season
P Scharner – Knee Surgery – Back in training but a few weeks away from fitness  

Team News

Stuart Pearce looks set to stick with the 3-5-2 system with Michael Ball and Hatem Trabelsi continuing in the wing back roles. City are likely to play with the same 11 that started the FA Cup tie against Preston, though there may be changes on the bench. Paul Dickov, Daniel Sturridge and new signing Emile Mpenza all come into contention, along with young French midfielder Djamel Abdoun. For Wigan, centre half Fitz Hall will be missing as he is banned.

 

Last Time Out

City – at Portsmouth – Lost 2-1. Disappointment once again for City as they really should have taken something from this game. After Bernardo Corradi had brought the Blues level following a Pedro Mendes wonder strike, a late goal from Kanu put paid to the City challenge. Once again, poor finishing haunted Stuart Pearce’s side.

Wigan – home to Newcastle – Won 1-0. Ryan Taylor scored his first goal for Wigan in a comfortable team display against a below par Newcastle side. Wigan’s form of late has shown signs of improvement as they battle towards the 40 point mark.

Last 5 Premiership Matches

Manchester City – WDLLL – 4 points from their last 15

Wigan – LWLDW – 7 points from their last 15

City’s Premiership form has been poor as of late. They are in danger of getting drawn into a relegation battle should this continue. After 8 defeats on the bounce earlier in the season, Wigan’s fortunes have taken a turn for the better with 2 recent wins and improved displays all round.

Player to Watch

Caleb Folan – Rangy striker who caused the City defence no end of problems earlier in the season while he was playing for Chesterfield. A powerful physique makes him a constant threat.

 

Prediction

This is the kind of match City should really win. However their recent form and an upturn in the form of their opposition increase the difficulty of the match. This is a key match for the Blues as a win would pull them away from a possible relegation battle. I fancy City to break their losing run against the Latics, but only with a score draw.

City 1 Wigan 1

 

Thanks to Grob of ManCityFans.Net for this preview.

You can discuss all things City in our Forum HERE