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The Story So Far
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| Town | Man City |
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Town's season really has started to collapse. After their early good form in August and September, Town have capitulated into freefall and after topping the table in September, now lie in 18th place, staring relegation in the face. The highlight of the season so far has been that fantastic cup game at Anfield when Town defeated the Merseysiders by 2 goals to 1. But Saturdays 3-0 defeat at home to Watford was Towns 5th consecutive loss in the league, and alarm bells are ringing around Blundell Park. Boss Lennie Lawrence will be determined that this cup hangover does not remain permanent, and will expect 110% commitment on Tuesday after Saturdays poor showing.
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Man City have had the sort of season so far that you'd come to expect from a team managed by Kevin Keegan. Goals have not been hard to come by with the likes of Paulo Wanchope, Sean Goater, Darren Huckerby and Ali Bernarbia in the line up. The problem, however, has often been at the other end, where simple errors have cost City points, and they lie in just 9th place in the table at the moment, when most pundits were expecting them to right up there at the top. No doubt they will be come the end of the season, but after failing to register a win in the league for 4 games, they will be looking to get back on track with a win against the Mariners.
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Recent Form
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| Town | Man City |
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| W | Sheff Wed | (h) | 3-1 |
| W | Bradford | (h) | 4-1 |
| D | Preston | (h) | 1-1 |
| D | Birmingham | (h) | 3-3 |
| L | Crewe | (a) | 0-1 |
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Overall League Record
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Leading Goalscorers (League + Cup)
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| Town | Man City |
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| Rowan | 4 |
| Jevons | 4 |
| Jeffrey | 2 |
| Pouton | 2 |
| Allen | 2 |
| Broomes | 2 |
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| Goater | 14 |
| Wanchope | 6 |
| Huckerby | 6 |
| Bernarbia | 4 |
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Town Team News
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Town are expected to make few changes to the team that lost to Watford on Saturday, except that David Beharall will probably swap with Marlon Broomes to partner Paul Groves in defence.
It's thought that striker Jonathan Rowan could be rested for Fridays game against Birmingham, meaning a start for Michael Boulding in a 4-4-1-1 system.
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Man City Team News
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Paulo Wanchope is definitely out through injury meaning that Shaun Goater will continue up front.
Goater's partner depends on the fitness of Darren Huckerby who limped off injured in Sundays game against Preston. If he does not make the starting line up then Shaun Wright Phillips will start in attack.
Defender Steve Howey is definitely out, with Richard Dunne taking his spot in defence.
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Expected Line Ups
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| Town | Man City |
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Danny Coyne
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| Welsh international who has been simply immense for Town these past two seasons. Rightly won his place back in the Welsh squad last month, and after a virtuoso display against Liverpool, will be looking to continue it in the league. |
Alan Neilson
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| Experienced defender formerly of Newcastle and Southampton who signed from Fulham on Friday. Brought in to cover for veteran John McDermott, meaning Danny Butterfield is able to move into the midfield. |
| Tony Gallimore |
| Solid left back who is a undoubtedly Town's first choice in that position, after signing for Town in 1996 from Carlisle for £230,000.
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Paul Groves (c)
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| Captain magnificent who has played over 300 games for the Mariners. Made the transition from central midfield to centre defence with ease and is now equally important in the defence as he was in midfield. |
| David Beharall |
| Expected to play in defence in place of Marlon Broomes who will be rested until Friday night. The Newcastle defender has been unlucky recently, with Marlon Broomes being preferred to partner Paul Groves. |
Stuart Campbell
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| Signed in the summer from Leicester after a loan spell last season. A hard working midfielder who can play anywhere across the midfield, but of late has played down the left. |
Alan Pouton
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| All action midfielder who despite preferring a role in the centre of the park, has had to play down the right wing this season. This has not stopped his progress, putting in some great displays. |
| Danny Butterfield |
| Accomplished midfield player who just lately has covered at right back. Now Alan Nielsen has been signed for a year, it gives the 22 year old the chance to move back into an engine room where he has played a huge role in this season. |
Menno Willems
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| Dutch midfielder, with a wicked left foot, who returned to the team on Saturday after being missing for nearly a month. Signed last season for the mariners in a £160,000 deal. |
| Phil Jevons |
| Scouser who was signed from Everton in the summer for £250,000.Scored THAT fantastic 35 yarder against Liverpool to send them into the next round of the cup. |
Michael Boulding
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| Former Manchester United trainee who will be hoping for his first start this season after impressing as a substitute with some speedy runs and quick thinking. |
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Nicky Weaver
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| England Under 21 international who has been widely tipped to eventually represent his country at senior level ever since he signed from Mansfield. Restored to No1 by Kevin Keegan after he was dropped by Joe Royle at the end of last season. |
Richard Dunne
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| Defender who is equally at home in the centre of defence or at right back. Was signed last season from Everton by Joe Royle.
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| Danny Granville |
| Accomplished left sided defender who started his career at Cambridge before moving to Chelsea, then onto Leeds. Now finds himself a regular at Maine Road after his £1million transfer. |
Stuart Pearce
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| Vastly experienced defender who spent most of his career at Nottingham Forest in Brian Clough's hay day. Went onto play for Newcastle and West Ham in recent years, and this will be his last playing season.
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| Lucien Mettomo
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| 24 year old Cameroonian defender signed by Kevin Keegan this season from French club Saint Etienne to shore up their leaky defence. |
| Ali Benarbia |
| Algerian midfielder with 4 caps to his name. His sublime passing and skill on the ball has caused many a problem for opposing players this season, making him a firm favourite with the fans since his move from Parish Saint Germain.. |
Gerard Wiekens
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| Dutch defensive midfielder who has seen everything at Manchester City in the past few years after signing in the 1997/98 season. Hard working player who is well respected by boss Kevin Keegan. |
Danny Tiatto
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| Australian international who started out for Man City as an auxiliary left back. He is now the player who holds their midfield together with his fierce tackling and 100% commitment. |
| Dicksen Etuhu |
| 19 year old Nigerian midfielder who has broken into the team this year after a string of fine performances in the reserves, being preferred to the experienced Kevin Horlock. |
Shaun Wright Phillips
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| Adopted son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, and at the age of 19 has already started 19 games for the Manchester side. Expected to play alongside Shaun Goater if Darren Huckerby is not declared fit. |
Shaun Goater
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| Lethal striker who has scored goals wherever he has been. Started his career at Manchester United before making a name for himself at Bristol City and Rotherham. Now a full Bemudan international. |
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| Subs | Subs |
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| Bradley Allen |
| Stacy Coldicott |
| Marlon Broomes |
| Jonathan Rowan |
| Steve Crousdon (GK) |
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| Darren Huckerby |
| Eyal Berkovic |
| Kevin Horlock |
| Simon Colosimo |
| Carlo Nash (GK) |
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Last Time Out
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The last time the two sides met in the league was in April 2000 when Town held promotion chasing Man City to a 1-1 draw. City took the lead from a corner when defender Spencer Prior (now with Cardiff) headed home. But Town equalised soon after with Alan Poutons first ever goal for Town. Earlier in that season, at Maine Road, Town lost 2-1 with City scoring in the last minute through Kevin Horlock. Towns goal that day came from Stacy Coldicott. At the end of the season, Man City were promoted in 2nd place while Town finished 20th in Alan Buckleys last ever season in charge.
Town Team: Coyne, Butterfield, Gallimore, Lever, Groves, Pouton, Smith, Coldicott, Donovan, Clare (Livingstone), Ashcroft.
Subs (unused): Croudson, Allen, Black, Bloomer
Report
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Man City Head-to-Head
(69th on The Opposition Ladder).
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Fishy Prediction
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Come on Town! Let's not loose this one. We won at Anfield, so we can win at Maine Road! What's the difference? We're all behind you lads, so go out there and do yourselves justice for goodness sake!
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Directions
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