FA Cup: Manchester City V Leicester City

FA Cup & League Cup Tips

 

Manchester City V Leicester City

Tuesday, 18th January – 19:45 (GMT) – LIVE on ESPN

At the start of the season, everyone waited with baited breath as to whom would become Man City’s No.1, as Joe Hart and Shay Given battled it out for goalkeeping supremacy at Eastlands. In the end, Mancini opted for form over experience, Joe Hart prevailing over his mentor following an impressive spell in the previous term at Birmingham City, and for the early part it Mancini’s switch of allegiance prove a smart move. However, lately the cracks have started to appear and now the 23-year old England international is under intense pressure to perform on Tuesday night, as City host Leicester in an FA Cup 3rd Round Replay which had it not been for the former Shrewsbury shot-stopper’s second-half howler back at Leicester’s Walkers Stadium, wouldn’t of been required to determine who sails through to the 4th Round.

Following City’s nervous win over Wolves at the weekend, where Mancini’s charges almost threw away a commanding 4-1 lead before eventually sealing a vital win with an ugly 4-3 scoreline, speculation has been growing surrounding Hart’s tenure a City’s primary goalkeeper. Shay Given has been waiting in the wings all season, the Republic of Ireland international being reduced to making just four appearances all season; none of those in a meaningful fixture either.

Hart has now shipped five goals in his last two starts, both against mediocre opposition, and despite Mancini failing to analyze the bigger picture, like how his defense has been so sub-standard of late, the Italian opted to publicly criticise his No.1’s lack of concentration. It was a bizarre move considering we didn’t think Hart put a foot wrong at the weekend, though in the long run it could prove beneficial as now the 23-year old knows he must raise his own level of performance in order to avoid relinquishing the gloves.

On the whole, I don’t think anyone would deny just how quality a keeper Joe Hart is. There have been moments this season where he has produced out-of-this-world saves, this in front of a defense which is regularly chopped and changed by Mancini. Micah Richards, Joeleon Lescott and Jerome Boateng are among those who are constantly in and out of the side, so to say there’s a lack of continuity at the back would be a massive understatement, and to say Joe Hart is vulnerable because of it is putting it lightly.

Nine days ago, when City paid Leicester a visit at their Walkers Stadium, Roberto Mancini watched on in horror as his side were out-fought and out-played for large periods. Though the Citizens would have won the tie outright had it not been for Hart’s blunder, the goal coming when City were in the ascendency, 2-1 up at the time. But, overall, it was a fair result as victory for City would have been criminal.

Leicester began that match at a blistering pace, Sol Bamba scoring on his debut very early on to put the Foxes into the lead. Although they weren’t in front for long, Sven-Goran Eriksson will have no doubt been immensely proud of the character and endeavour of his team in what was an incredibly difficult encounter.

However, while they deserved all the post-match praise for their courageous efforts, you cannot help but think that their window of opportunity has passed them by. Without the support and encouragement they received from the terraces, Leicester probably would have struggled. In fact, we know they would of, as their record on the road is abysmal. Nine defeats from fourteen away matches against Championship opposition this season is disconcerting for Sven, who realises he has a tough job on his hand transforming Leicester’s terrible away tendencies of giving the ball away and allowing themselves to be over-awed by their surroundings and intimidated by their hosts.

I wouldn’t say the City of Manchester Stadium is one of the more hostile venues we’ve seen in the Premiership, a treat for the eyes no doubt, though it has been the hub of so many of Man City’s tidier displays this season. An under-fire Joe Hart has kept seven shut-outs in twelve in the league this season, against sides of top-flight calibre. Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd are among those who have failed to score a single goal at Eastlands this season, so you can see the mountainous task ahead for Sven and his men, whom have failed to score in a third of their away encounters this season, those against Championship opposition.

Set-pieces were where Leicester continued to trouble City at the back, with the Citizens deprived of any organisation or communication. No-one had a clue who they were marking so Leicester continued to enjoy free attempts on goal. Lessons should have been learnt so we don’t expect the same errors to crop up on Tuesday, as Hart seek to show his worth by hopefully keeping his side of the bargain in ensuring the likes of Paul Gallagher and Yakubu do not breach the City goal.

Without home support, we suspect Leicester will struggle and before long, once City settle in and take a stranglehold on proceedings, the Foxes will soon enough find themselves out of their depth. I’m sure the several thousand Leicester supporters will beg to differ, while it is the FA Cup after all, home of giant-killings. Victory for Sven’s Leicester really would rate right up there with the biggest despite the two being separated by just one division, although 31 places in all.

Matt’s Selection(s):

Manchester City to WIN to NIL @ 2.35 Coral
Manchester City -1.5 (Asian handicap) @ 2.00 Bet365

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Match odds:

Manchester City – 1.36 WilliamHill
Draw – 5.50 VictorChandler
Leicester City – 10.00 SkyBet