Here's my perspective:-
Our next match is against a dangerous team, who are good going forward but very, very shaky at the back.
In their last match, they managed to score 4 goals but conceded 4 - the latter was largely the result of very poor defending, but may also have been due to nerves - despite having home advantage and 70,000+ fans supporting them, they contrived to throw away a 2 goal lead twice. 2 goals were conceded in the last few minutes of the game - an indicator that they were not handling the pressure very well, whereas, they used to have a history of seeing out such games with ease. One can only speculate as to how nervous - frightened even - they might be at the rather terrifying prospect of facing an in-form City, who have already massacred them on their own pitch, and very nearly embarrassed them at The Etihad - City didn't even have a full 11 on the pitch (more of that below). Such memories are likelt to make their bums squeak more and more as this week goes by.
They are unlikely to 'park the bus' as that isn't their way, so, they will have to defend extremely well when we win posession.
Given that we are strong defensively - especially at home - and as we have already beaten them very handsomely away, it's a match which I would expect a full strength City to win. Their defence is highly unlikely to be able to contain our forward power for a full 90 minutes.
Our problems will arise should we have the misfortune to have a player sent off, as happened earlier this season, when we almost drew with them in a cup match, despite being down to 10 players for 75 minutes, and 3-0 down at half time. If we keep 11 players on the pitch, we should secure a comfortable victory.
Then we move on to a much more difficult match away to an in-form Newcastle.........
