Manchester City Football Club News

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

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

Given escapes Mancini's wrath

14 Feb 2010 - 15:04:22

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was unhappy with his side's defending as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in their FA Cup fifth round 1-1 draw at Eastlands against Stoke City on Saturday evening.

Shaun Wright-Phillips had given City the lead thanks largely to a howler by Potters centre-half Ryan Shawcross only for the visitors to equalise when Rory Delap's long throw allowed Ricardo Fuller to nod past a static Shay Given.

That goal meant the two teams will have to replay at the Britannia Stadium on Tuesday week, with Mancini saying: "Shay couldn't have saved that.

"The problem was that our starting positions were bad. Stoke ended up with two players free. That was the problem."

However, Mancini was pleased with left-back Wayne Bridge's performance in the game following his recent spell in the spotlight.

The Italian added: "Wayne played very well. He is a good player who can play for the national team and I expect him to do so. That is what he told me and I think it is important for him."