Thursday, December 31, 2009

Middlesbrough v Man City

Middlesbrough    v    Man City

    FA Cup third round
    Venue: Riverside Stadium Date: Saturday, 2 January Kick-off: 1500 GMT
    Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio, Final Score

    TEAM NEWS

    Middlesbrough have striker problems, with Dave Kitson returning to Stoke, Leroy Lita suspended and Jeremie Aliadiere a doubt with an ankle injury.

    Isaiah Osbourne is ineligible and David Wheater (ankle and knee) and Emanuel Pogatetz (hamstring) are both doubts.

    Winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is Manchester City's major concern with his ankle problem and they have Stephen Ireland (hamstring) unavailable.

    Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor are at the African Cup of Nations.

    BIG-MATCH FACTS

    The tie in context

    • This is one of half a dozen Premier League against Championship ties in the third round.

    Gulf in class

    • At fifth in the top-flight, Manchester City are 26 places better off than Middlesbrough.

    Head-to-head

    FA Cup records and best performances

    • On the last four occasions these clubs have met, the one playing at home has won (all Premier League games).

    • That includes Middlebrough's 8-1 victory at the close of the 2007/08 season.

    • This is the fifth time these clubs have been drawn against each other in the FA Cup, and the Teessiders are looking to knock their opulent visitors out for the fourth successive time.

    • 'Boro's most recent FA Cup triumph was 1-0, away from home in the fifth round in February 1997, when Juninho scored, and Bryan Robson's side went on to lose to Chelsea in the final. It was Middlesbrough's second losing trip to Wembley that season, when they were also relegated.

    The clubs

    MIDDLESBROUGH

    Current form

    • Lost four of the last five; the exception being a 3-0 home win over Scunthorpe on Boxing Day (all Championship games).

    FA Cup form

    • Semi-finalists in 2006, and quarter-finals in each of the three seasons subsequent to that.

    • The club knocking out Middlesbrough has gone to lose in the final in each of the last five seasons.

    MANCHESTER CITY

    Current form

    • Roberto Mancini has made a perfect start as Manchester City manager; two matches, two wins, two clean sheets.

    • City are chasing a fourth successive victory, and have lost once in 17 league and cup games, eight of which were drawn.

    FA Cup form

    • Now won the cup since 1969.

    • Eliminated in the third round by Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest last season.

    Replay date

    Wednesday, 13 January (Kick off: 1945)

    Match officials

    Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)

    Assistant referees: Phil Sharp & Jeremy Simpson

    Fourth official: David Webb

    о 11:44 PM

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