Source: Eurosport
Richards takes positives at City
Manchester City defender Micah Richards is determined to finish the season in style after the disappointment of tumbling out of the UEFA Cup.
City entertain bottom club West Brom on Sunday on the back of their 4-3 aggregate defeat by Hamburg in the quarter-final of the competition.
However, the manner of the performance in the second leg, which they won 2-1, has given Richards cause for optimism.He believes they can still clinch seventh place in the Premier League which would yield a European place.
Richards said: "We went out of the UEFA Cup with our heads held high as we deserved to win, and maybe win by more, against a top quality side.
"We will try to take the positives from this clash. We still have a chance of a top-seven position in the league and getting back into the competition next season.
"The fans were absolutely brilliant and I am just sorry we could not get the result we all wanted.
"They were our 12th man and it really helped us, especially at the end when some of us were struggling."
Richards was frustrated at not getting on the scoresheet against Hamburg despite twice being good positions.
"We had plenty of chances to add to our goal tally, including the two chances I had which I am disappointed I didn't convert," he said.
"With the first one I just slipped and with the second I couldn't get over the top of the ball in time.
"I am really gutted that we lost after coming so close, but we gave it our all."
Manager Mark Hughes will monitor the fitness of Shaun Wright-Phillips ahead of the game. The midfielder has missed the last two matches because of a nagging ankle injury.
Nigel de Jong is expected to return to the squad after sitting out the UEFA Cup match against his former club as he was ineligible.Richard Dunne is available despite being sent off on Thursday as his ban only applies in Europe.
Hughes added: "We have got to pick ourselves up. It is a case of making sure we recover, clear our heads and go again.
"It will be difficult to re-focus and get back to Premier League action but we will take encouragement from this performance against Hamburg.
"It is important now we have a really strong finish. One of the things we have to do is address our away form which has not been good enough."
