Source: Telegraph
Roberto Mancini denies heat is on after Manchester City crash out of FA Cup to Stoke
Manchester City paid the price for Emmanuel Adebayor's sending off as they were overpowered 3-1 by Stoke City in extra time at the Britannia Stadium. [LNB]The result effectively ends City's hopes of winning silverware this season and leaves them to concentrate on their attempts to break into the top four of the Premier League. [LNB]Action matches heat at Henley Royal RegattaWith so much money having been spent at Eastlands, it is thought failure to do so could cost Mancini his job. [LNB]The Italian has won just two of his last eight matches in all competitions, but he insists he is not feeling the heat. [LNB]"No, no, absolutely not," Mancini said. "I'm disappointed because we lost. [LNB]"We had a good chance to go to the next round and the final, but this is football, we must improve." [LNB]City forced extra time after Craig Bellamy struck immediately to cancel out Dave Kitson's 79th-minute opener. [LNB]But the game turned after Adebayor was dismissed for raising his arms in an attempt to fend off Ryan Shawcross. [LNB]Shawcross then headed Stoke ahead five minutes into extra time and Tuncay booked Stoke's place in the last eight four minutes later. [LNB]Mancini added: "My opinion is that we played very well. We dominated the game and had six or seven chances to score a goal before the sending off of Emmanuel. [LNB]"Football is strange. When you play well and have a lot of chances, if you don't score something can change the game. [LNB]"Until that situation it was our best performance in the last three or four games. [LNB]"Manu (Adebayor) played very well, fantastic. For me - maximum yellow card. It was not so dangerous." [LNB]It was the third time the two sides have played out a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes in the past 12 days. [LNB]Stoke manager Tony Pulis, whose side now face Chelsea in the last eight, was pleased they finally emerged victorious. [LNB]Pulis said: "We have played a team three times in the past two weeks, a team of unbelievable resources and quality. [LNB]"We have managed to come out on top, so we are delighted, really pleased. [LNB]"In the first half I thought Thomas (Sorensen) kept us in the game. He made a couple of great saves. [LNB]"But second half and through extra time I thought we were the better team." [LNB]Pulis claims he was not in a position to pass judgement on the dismissal of Adebayor. [LNB]He said: "I still haven't seen the sending off. When our players get sent off I see it all the time." [LNB]Pulis also refused to get carried away after seeing Stoke through to the last eight for the first time since 1972. [LNB]"I said to the players afterwards we have got a massive game here on Saturday against Arsenal," Pulis said. [LNB]"Arsene Wenger will be absolutely delighted this game has gone to two hours. [LNB]"We have got to make sure we turn up and give Arsenal a good game."[LNB]FA Cup quarter-final draw[LNB]Chelsea v Stoke CityFulham v Tottenham HotspurReading v Aston VillaPortsmouth v Birmingham City
