Roberto Mancini's Manchester City side will attempt to recover from yet
another European disappointment when they return to Premier League
action against Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
A midweek 2-2 home draw to Ajax all but ended City's hopes of reaching
the Champions League group stages and Mancini's frustration was clear
when he confronted the referee on the pitch at the end of the game.
The result came just days after City had lost ground to Premier League
leaders Manchester United by failing to beat West Ham and with
expectations high for the reigning champions, a return to winning form
can't come soon enough.
The visit of Tottenham will provide a stern challenge and while Andre
Villas-Boas's side have also struggled for consistency, City first team
coach David Platt has warned they will present a different kind of test
to the home side.
Mancini's team have remain unbeaten at the Etihad in the league in the
league since the loss to Everton in December 2010 and have grown
increasingly used to visiting teams sitting deep and attempting to grind
out a draw.
He said: "It will be very difficult, very tough. They have a group of
young energetic players that can harm you, can score a goal in an
instant.
"We're not talking about someone who can't come and go to win a football match and that's no disrespect to other teams.
"They've got several individuals who can turn a game in an instant and
it becomes very difficult in its own right because of that."
City have yet to experience defeat in the Premier League this season,
however, and Platt is satisfied with their opening to the campaign.
He added: "The league table starts to take some kind of shape after 10
games or so. We're not a third of the way into yet but after 10 games it
starts to take some kind of shape.
City could recall David Silva, Joleon Lescott and Maicon, who have been
absent with respective hamstring, back and ankle injuries.
But England internationals Micah Richards, James Milner and Jack Rodwell remain on the sidelines.
Tottenham will arrive at the Etihad with the disadvantage of having
faced Maribor in the Europa League 48 hours after City had taken on
Ajax.
Jermain Defoe's hat-trick in that game secured a 3-1 victory and
provided a timely boost after the unexpected 1-0 defeat to Wigan at
White Hart Lane the previous weekend.
That result left Spurs in sixth place, level on points with Everton and
West Brom, and Gareth Bale is convinced the midweek victory will help
revive their domestic campaign.
"We needed the right reaction after the weekend and we certainly did
that," said the winger. "The lads are delighted and we've got to
maintain that form now going into the Premier League.
"This is another big game. We went there last season, gave them a good
run for their money and probably should have won, but it wasn't to be.
"We know it will be very difficult on Sunday and we'll give it our all.
We've played well away, we'll prepare right and hopefully we'll get the
right result."
Moussa Dembele will again be missing but central midfielder Sandro faces a late fitness test.
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