Rich Man v Poor Man the Man City vs Blackpool Preview

31 December 2010 16:06
This is a contest between the richest and poorest clubs in the Premier League, but Manchester City know better than to expect Blackpool to turn up with an inferiority complex. Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez is expected to start after sitting out the emphatic win over Aston Villa to rest a tight hamstring.Manager Roberto Mancini could freshen up his side by also recalling the likes of Kolo Toure, Jerome Boateng, Aleksandar Kolarov and James Milner.Blackpool captain Charlie Adam returns after after missing the game at the Stadium of Light through suspension. But the Seasiders will be without midfielder Elliot Grandin for their Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City at Eastlands on New Year's Day.Grandin had to be substituted less than 20 minutes in to Tuesday's 2-0 victory at Sunderland having picked up a hamstring injury and looks set to be sidelined for the next three matches.Manchester CityInjured: NoneBlackpoolInjured: Almond (shoulder), Basham (leg), Clarke, Gilks & Martin (all knee), Grandin & Harewood (both hamstring)MATCH PREVIEWThis is a contest between the richest and poorest clubs in the Premier League, but Manchester City know better than to expect Blackpool to turn up with an inferiority complex.I wouldn't swap our squad for anyone else's. But nobody is getting carried away and we know there is a lot of hard work to comeBrian Kidd, Manchester City's assistant managerThe Seasiders start the day in eighth place, with up to three games in hand, following another priceless three points at Sunderland. Blackpool rode their luck, having faced 32 shots, but they go into the new year with five times more away wins than leaders Manchester United!While Blackpool look certain to keep their place in the Premier League, City's focus is on winning it. They begin the year level at the top with United, their highest position at this stage of a season since they led the division on 1 January, 1982.Assistant manager Brian Kidd has claimed that the league title is Manchester United's to lose, although such a remark will surely be treated as Kidd-ology. City hardly seem resigned to defeat, reportedly making a £30m bid for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko. That figure is nearly eight times greater than the total cost of Blackpool's squad.Nonetheless, Blackpool came desperately close to bridging the divide in October's reverse fixture, dominating long periods of the game but eventually succumbing 3-2.MATCH FACTSHead-to-head• Manchester City are on a nine-match unbeaten home run against Blackpool in all competitions, winning the last six. • Blackpool have not won this fixture in the league since a 3-0 top-flight away victory in May 1963.Manchester City• City have won six of their last 10 league matches, losing only once. • They are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches on New Year's Day. • Roberto Mancini's side are yet to register a comeback victory this season. They have lost three of the four games in which they have conceded the opening goal, and drawn the other. • Carlos Tevez was the top Premier League scorer in 2010, with 26 goals. • Joe Hart is poised to make his 200th club career appearance.Blackpool• The Seasiders are seeking to extend their unbeaten streak to six matches. Their only defeat in the last eight games was at Aston Villa (W4, D3, L1). • Blackpool have picked up 17 points away from home this season. Only Manchester City and Arsenal have fared better. • Only one club in Premier League history has been in the top eight on 1 January and gone on to be relegated - Norwich were seventh on New Year's Day 1995 and eventually went down. • Ian Holloway's side are unbeaten when scoring the opening goal this season (W7, D2). • DJ Campbell's five league goals have all come away from home.LEADING GOALSCORERSManchester CityTevez: 12 goals (12 league); Balotelli: 8 goals (5 league)BlackpoolCampbell, Harewood & Varney: 5 goals (5 league)MATCH OFFICIALSReferee: Mark ClattenburgAssistant referees: Jake Collin & Mick McDonoughFourth official: Tony BatesLAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPSManchester City (W4-0 v Aston Villa, h): Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta, Yaya Toure (Jo 63), De Jong (Bridge 77), Vieira, A Johnson, Balotelli, Silva (Milner 58). Subs not used: Given, Boateng, Barry, Tevez.Blackpool (W2-0 v Sunderland, a): Kingson; Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Taylor-Fletcher (Carney 81), Vaughan, Sylvestre (Southern 81), Varney, Grandin (Phillips 19), Campbell. Subs not used: Halstead, Ormerod, Baptiste, Edwards.

Source: FOOTYMAD