Mancini: Goals tally could be key

Roberto Mancini wants his free-scoring Manchester City team to keep their foot on the pedal in the remaining five games of the season. With 14 goals in three matches, they head into the home derby against Manchester United on Saturday in a rich vein of form.That good run has seen City cement fourth place, but Tottenham lie only a point behind following their victory against Arsenal on Wednesday night.It seems a straight fight between Mancini and his managerial counterpart Harry Redknapp for a coveted Champions League place and the former Inter Milan boss is up for the challenge."We know that it is vital we have a good goal difference because that could possibly decide who finishes in fourth place, " Mancini told www.mcfc.co.uk."We have been scoring a few goals in recent weeks, which is good. There is no reason we cannot continue to keep scoring if we play in the manner we have been of late, no matter the opposition."Wayne Bridge could be set to face United as he has recovered from a hernia operation which caused him to miss five matches.The full-back is one of four players who are in line to return with Stephen Ireland (ankle) and Patrick Vieira (knee) on the mend following injuries while Pablo Zabaleta is free from suspension.Bridge has endured a troubled season on and off the pitch and only returned to action against Hull in February after missing 13 games because of a knee problem.Mancini said: "We will have Pablo Zabaleta available again following his two-match ban and possibly Stephen Ireland, Patrick Vieira and Wayne Bridge too which is very good news for us."I am very pleased they are back in training and we will see how things go this week. It is good that we are getting everybody fit at such a crucial time of the season with so many important matches to come."Bridge has ruled himself out of England duty after reports surfaced of an affair between his former girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel and Chelsea captain John Terry.However, manager Fabio Capello has left the door open for Bridge, who played alongside Terry at Chelsea, and Mancini also said he hopes his player changes his mind.Meanwhile Carlos Tevez has been credited officially with the second goal in the 5-1 victory over Birmingham.Nedum Onuoha thought he had scored but handed it over to the Argentina striker, who got a slight touch.Now the club, asked to rule on the official scorer because the Premier League only steps into debates about possible own goals, has awarded the goal to Tevez.It takes the former Old Trafford striker Tevez to 22 goals in the Premier League - and at the heart of the hunt for the coveted Golden Boot - and 28 in all, his biggest-ever haul in a single campaign.

Source: Team_Talk