Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

Away problems worry Hughes

06 Apr 2009 - 12:28:24

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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has accepted that his side have major problems in trying to repeat their solid home form when they journey away from Eastlands.

The Citizens have earned only eight points on their travels in the Premier League this season, having won ten times out of 15 in front of their own fans.

Hughes said after a 2-0 reverse at Arsenal: "The longer this run goes, maybe the self-belief aspect comes into it.

"We have confidence at Eastlands. There we are a fantastic team to watch and we score goals.

"Away from home you have to stick your chest out and say to the opposition 'come on, what have you got'.

"But we just weren't able to ask enough questions and at the moment that is happening too many times away from home."

Meanwhile, Hughes is hopeful that key midfielder Stephen Ireland will recover from an ankle problem to face Hamburg in Thursday's UEFA Cup clash.

He added: "He went over on it during virtually the last kick of a training match we had last Thursday.

"It was the outside rather than the inside, but obviously it's irritated the old injury. He has a chance for Thursday, but no more than that."