Source: Man_City
Gary Owen column
Darren Bent and Vincent Kompany challenge for the ballGet your retaliation in first City, and we'll be back on course for that fourth spot! How many times this season have we had to go behind in a game, or at least take a battering, before we start playing? Just recently we have done it at Chelsea, at Stoke and at Hull, and it is something that needs addressing if we are to win what is turning into a fascinating race for the fourth Champions League place. The latest example was at Sunderland when, quite frankly, we were dreadful in the first-half. The first goal is vital in the Premier League these days, and never more so when going into a situation like that in which Sunderland found themselves. They were coming off the back of a big win over Bolton, but their boss Steve Bruce admitted he has been having sleepless nights about his team's lack of wins. City fight An early goal against a team like that kills them - let them score the early goal and the confidence surges back and you have an uphill fight on your hands. I have been a player in this kind of situation, and when a goal goes against you, you immediately get that 'Here we go again' feeling. Sunderland got the early goal, and we had to chase it, on a terrible pitch. Then we came up against a keeper who looked like stopping everything all day, and a draw started to look like a good result. Tottenham seized their chance and now look like the team in the strongest position, but it changes from week to week. Some people are ruling out Villa, but they picked up a point at Stoke which, as we know only too well, is not a bad result these days. It is going right to the wire, and with that in mind, it is one of those moments when it pays to take a deep breath and take a step back to look at the big picture. And that picture shows that if we win our game in hand we go fourth, that we reached the Carling Cup semi-final and lost it to a last-minute goal by a team likely to win the Premier League title. Now step forward again all those who would not have taken that if it had been offered at the start of the season. What can City do to improve their fortunes? Have your say. | Submit Comments| Comments (17)| PrintWhat's this? Emaildel.icio.usDiggredditFacebookStumbleUponNewsvineGoogle BookmarksNetscapeTechnoratiWindows LiveYahoo! MyWebMa.gnolia
