Match Preview - Manchester City (h)

[Jourdan]

Match Preview – Manchester City (h)

Both sides go into tonight’s game nursing wounds from defeat in the FA Cup 4th round. City will be looking for only their third away league win to aid their attempts to qualify for the Champions’ League while the Rams will be searching for only their second win all season in an attempt to close the 13 point gap on 17th placed Birmingham and keep their faint hopes of survival alive.

Last Time at Pride Park

Derby 1-1 Manchester City (2000/01)

Recent History

The arrival of new owner Thaksin Shinawatra and manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has resulted in a dramatic upturn in the club’s fortunes. Over £40m of investment in the playing squad has enabled City to become contenders for Champions’ League qualification - they sit in 7th place in the Premier League, just 2 points adrift of 4th placed Everton. The success of summer signings such as Elano, Martin Petrov and Vedran Corluka coupled with the rise of youngsters like Joe Hart, Stephen Ireland, Micah Richards and Michael Johnson has seen the men in blue become a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.

Impact of Summer Signings

Elano and Martin Petrov are the two summer additions that have impressed most during City’s revival. Brazilian international Elano is the club’s top goal-scorer with 7 goals in 23 first team appearances, wowing crowds with his technical ability and habit of scoring spectacular strikes. Bulgarian star Martin Petrov has become the scourge of Premier League defences up and down the country with his pace, trickery and craft. Meannwhile, defenders Vedran Corluka and Javier Garrido have performed steadily becoming first choice right back and left back respectively. However. Geovanni, Gelson Fernandes have struggled to hold down a place in the City midfield, largely being restricted to substitute appearances. Rolando Bianchi has found it difficult to settle in England and secured a loan move to Lazio this month after only scoring 5 in 24 first-team appearances (10 starts) for City. Sustaining a cruciate ligament injury on his first competitive start for the club in August has restricted Valeri Bojinov to a mere 3 appearances.

Form

Despite winning only 4 of their last 12 league games, City’s quest for European football is ongoing. Fourth place and Champions’ League football is still very much within their sights. They are fast becoming the league’s draw specialists though having drawn 6 of their last 12 league games, including 3 consecutive draws at the City of Manchester Stadium. With Everton, Liverpool and Aston Villa providing stern competition for that coveted fourth place, they will be desperate to get back to winning ways tonight as their last win came during a trip to St. James’s Park earlier this month.

Qualifying for Europe is now City’s only focus after they were dumped out of the FA Cup by Sheffield United on Sunday and were eliminated from the Carling Cup by finalists Tottenham at the quarter-final stage.

One to Watch

Joe Hart – The 20 year old keeper has forced himself into the first team picture after impressive displays in the Carling Cup. He has now made 12 starts in the Premier League and continues to improve while establishing himself as City’s number 1.

Predicted Line-ups

Derby – Price, Edworthy, Moore, Davis, Pearson, Teale, Savage, Ghaly, Barnes, Miller, Earnshaw

Man City – Hart, Corluka, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Elano, Ireland, Fernandes, Hamann, Petrov, Vassell

Key Battles

Edworthy vs. Petrov – Experienced defender Marc Edworthy will have to be at his best and more to keep winger Martin Petrov quiet. The former Athletico Madrid midfielder has established a reputation for being a menace to Premier League defences.

Miller vs. Richards – Promising defender Micah Richards will be best equipped with dealing with the danger of pacy Scottish international Kenny Miller.

Savage vs. Elano – Rams captain Robbie Savage will face his biggest test thus far in a Derby shirt as he comes up against classy midfielder Elano.

Odds (courtesy of Ladbrokes.com on 30/1/2008)

Derby to win – 4/1
Draw – 5/2
Man City to win – 4/6

Virtual Betting

1 bet has been registered in favour of a Derby win at odds of 10/3. Other odds available are the draw at 9/4 and a Man City win at 8/11.

Jourdan predicts...0-2