Manchester City v Bolton Wanderers
Barclays Premier League
3rd March 2012, 3pm Live on Setanta Sports
Premier league leaders Manchester City have the chance to pile the pressure on their bitter rivals United and continue their imperious home form when they host relegation threatened Bolton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday 3rd March.
Roberto Mancini’s men have won all 13 games at home this season and will be heavy favourites to take all three points from this encounter, which would give them a five point cushion over United who face a tricky trip to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham on the following Sunday.
It is unlikely Bolton’s porous defence will be able to contain the strike power of City’s Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko, but in this season of shocks, and with United’s shock 3-2 home reverse to Blackburn Rovers still fresh in the memory, the Citizens will be advised to ward off any complacency. Owen Coyle’s struggling team have proved they do have the ability to punish opponents on a good day, as the likes of Everton and Liverpool have found out, but they have struggled to find consistency and continue to concede sloppy goals.
All considered, it is hard to see anything but a comfortable home win here, particularly with City’s injury, suspension and international duty lists now clearing up at the right end of the season. Yaya Toure, Balotelli and captain Vincent Kompany are all now available in the blue half of Manchester’s quest for first Premier League title.
By William David Wilson
Twitter: @wdwilso2
