Middlesborough V Manchester City: Saturday 2nd January (FA Cup)

Middlesborough V Manchester City

Saturday 2^nd January – 15:00 GMT

Just six months ago and this would have been a Premiership encounter. Now a game against Man City will only bring back nostalgic memories of what used to be but could a victory over an inform Man City reignite their off-the-rocks season. City, on the other hand, are desperate for glory and their insanely rich owners will do whatever it takes to bring some excitement back to the club and a successful cup run in the FA Cup is imperative as far as they are concerned. This really is a game between the ‘hasbeens’ and the ‘wannabes’ as Manchester City clash with Middlesborough at The river side.

Middlesborough

FA Cup Odds: 200/1 Coral

In what has been a season to forget, year for that matter, Middlesborough fans will be hoping the FA Cup can be a warm and welcomed retreat from their beleaguered season in The Championship. The Teesiders, after a disappointing month of December, are currently found languishing in 12^th position, with form, momentum and confidence not in their favour at present. So how will they fare against the country’s richest club in Manchester City?

It’s been a strange old season for Middlesborough, made even more bizarre with the unexpected and uncalled for departure of Gareth Southgate. The former England captain was sent packing when Middlesborough were in a prominent league position, sat in second place and breathing down the neck of their fellow Tyneside neighbours, Newcastle United. However, Southgate’s dismissal didn’t only spark outrage with the natives but it also sent the team into a downward spiral, one which Graham Strachan, Southgate’s replacement, has done little to halt.

Since the start of December, Borough have racked up four defeats in six, with the two victories over QPR (1-5) and Scunthorpe United (3-0) doing nothing to hide their form cracks. Teeside clearly wasn’t as festive as one might have hoped but they only have themselves to blame, mainly their blunt strikers. Not only have they fallen to four defeats in their last six but three of those were to Nil, two coming at The Riverside, Saturday’s venue. On a similar topic, their overall form at home this season hasn’t been great, with Borough’s home record looking like this; 4-2-6, with a 50% losing ratio at The river side this season.

Not only has an ordinary front-line aided them in a severe downfall but their defence has also been leaky, with clean sheets at a premium for Borough this season. Brad Jones in the Middlesborough is actually a keeper we rate but even he hasn’t been able to keep a poor Middlesborough defence afloat, with Borough shipping 29 goals this season, nine of which have come in the month of December alone. Their only clean sheet in nine came in their 3-0 battering of Scunthorpe Utd in their last home encounter so, if Borough are to spring a surprise than they will need to outscore City as a narrow 1-0 victory really doesn’t look on the cards.

Manchester City

FA Cup Odds: 11/1 Bet365

Man City, under the guidance of their new Italian manager, are flying high once again after a run of three straight wins. Roberto Mancini has seen City record three successive wins, although just two came under his watchful eye as manager, with their 3-0 victory away at Wolves their latest success. However, Mancini will need to grasp the basic concept of what is a completely different domestic cup competition to any he has managed or played in with the Italian league.

In Italia, the Coppa Italia is their main cup competition but it’s set out a little differently than ours. In Italy, a winner is decided over two legs, home and away ties, whereas it’s usually settled in one encounter in England, with the exception of a stalemate. However, the thought of getting the job done a lot earlier than usual should entice Mancini into playing the strongest side possible on Saturday, not that we expected anything less, regardless. However, with City facing a two-legged affair with Man Utd in the new year perhaps Mancini will have a watchful eye on the fitness levels of City’s more crucial players. 

Man City do stroll into this tie with strong form after three wins on the trot back in the Premiership. Sunderland (4-3), Stoke City (2-0) and now Wolves (0-3), have all succumbed to City’s attacking prowess and it was their gold plated attack which earned them all three points in Monday’s encounter with Wolves at Molineux. 

However, although the three points is all that counts, City’s performance was well below the standard we all expect from them now and it was Wolves who dominated the opening exchanges. City were sluggish to get out of the blocks and it took a piece of good luck to spring City out of their slumber. Mancini opted for Craig Bellamy & Carlos Tevez in attack and it was a stunning decision as both played out of their skins. Mancini was probably in the mindset that, when playing on the road, a striking duet with a great work ethic would be best suited over their lazy alternatives of Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor, although the latter will jet off to African with Togo for the ACON and won’t be available for this clash.

On the road is where City have come unstuck this season, managing just three away wins in the league all season. They did win in their last away outing, a 3-0 success over Wolves, but they were previously on a seven match run without an away win so it’s clear City do have a dose of homesickness. Also, City have found scoring a lot harder away from home, scoring six less on their travels than at The City of Manchester, which is a big difference considering three of those came in their latest 3-0 win at Wolves.

Match Verdict: Manchester City to WIN – 1.67 SkyBet

It’s clear that City’s mega rich owners don’t have an abundance of patience and success needs to be an imminent thing. Mark Hughes expressed both his and the clubs desire to win some silverware by fielding a strong side throughout in their Carling Cup campaign, one which sees them go head-t0-head with Man Utd in the new year. The FA Cup is a far more prestigious competition and we expect nothing less than the strongest possible City side on Saturday in a game they should cruise through. Their array of talent in the attacking third should be far too much for a Middlesborough side struggling to keep it together at the back.

Match Odds:

Middlesborough – 6.00 Boylesports

Draw – 3.75 Bet365

Manchester City – 1.67 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Carlos Tevez FGS – 6.50 PaddyPower

Price last updated: 14:17 29^th Dec.