City braced for physical battle

MANCHESTER City are preparing for another Sunday shift against Stoke, a side already scrapping for Premier League survival.

But for once it is not the demands of television or City’s UEFA Cup commitments which have forced the switch to Sunday as Greater Manchester Police have insisted on the change from Saturday for security reasons.

After Monday’s draw at next-to-bottom Newcastle, City can expect another tough match, especially as any side managed by Tony Pulis is renowned for its battling qualities.

City boss Mark Hughes has admitted his players will have to stand up to the physical challenge, something they have struggled to do against teams with “an in-your-face” approach.

City’s physical limitations were epitomised in the defeat at Wigan where the hosts never gave graceful players like Robinho and Elano the time and space to function.

Wigan’s game plan worked to perfection so you can see a similar strategy being adopted by teams like Stoke, who don’t have the finesse to play an expansive game.

The Potters are already showing a steely determination to hold on to their top-flight status which they regained five months ago after an absence of 23 years.

Ironically, the last time the two teams met was in the 1998/99 campaign when both were in the third tier of English football.

Stoke have won twice in their first eight Premier League matches this season, the second time on Sunday when they secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Tottenham at the Britannia Stadium.

That win in the basement battle heaped pressure on bottom-club Spurs, who finished with nine men after Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson were sent off.

Stoke, whose other league victory was against Aston Villa, have also invested heavily in their bid to avoid an immediate return to the Coca-Cola Championship.

They have spent almost £20million to bring in 10 players, including £5.5m on Reading striker Dave Kitson.

Others bought for seven-figure sums are Seyi Olofinjana (Wolves), Abdoulaye Faye (Newcastle), Amdy Faye (Charlton), Danny Higgin-botham (Sunderland), Michael Tonge (Sheffield United), Tom Soares (Crystal Palace) and Andrew Davies (Southampton).

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen (Aston Villa) was captured on a free transfer and the Dane has already proved an influential signing.