City hinting at brighter days

MANCHESTER City will gain a firm foothold in their bid for Premier League security should they overcome Stoke at the Britannia Stadium tomorrow.

In a turbulent season for manager Mark Hughes and the club’s faithful followers, City have been flirting with the relegation places despite the incredible riches of their Abu Dhabi owners.

But Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over a poor Newcastle side, in which new signing Craig Bellamy scored the all-important second goal, has given them breathing space.

City are currently ninth in the table, seven points above the drop zone in which Stoke are currently languishing.

Hughes’ side are likely to face a physical and aerial bombardment tomorrow, but should their superior skills come to the fore and a positive result be achieved, then the club can surely start to look forward to a much brighter future.

Bellamy arrived from West Ham in a £10m transfer and enjoyed a fruitful start to his partnership with record signing Robinho, who played against Newcastle despite his off-the-field worries which made headlines earlier this week.

And Hughes is convinced Bellamy will be a hit with the City fans.

"People concentrate on Craig's personality and demeanour, but I think he has won a lot of people over already with the manner of his performance," said Hughes.

"There are not many people like him on the open market. We got a good deal because, as far as I am concerned, it is money well spent."

Robinho’s decision to leave City’s Tenerife training camp and go home to his family in Brazil was followed by his strenuous denial of rape allegations made by a woman in West Yorkshire.

But Hughes said: "I had no qualms about putting Robinho in the team (against Newcastle). He was focused and prepared to play. There was not a doubt for me."

Hughes, who looks likely to add Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz and Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given to his squad before the transfer window closes, will be feeling more secure about his position at City after a season rife with speculation about his future.

As for his Stoke counterpart, Tony Pulis, the next few months promise a tense struggle to avoid an immediate return to the Championship after their promotion heroics of last season.

After a promising start to their Premier League campaign, Stoke’s one-dimensional play has been exposed and their latest setback came at Tottenham on Tuesday when they slumped to a 3-1 defeat.

The Potters were 3-0 down at half-time - Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said it could have been six - but, to their credit, Stoke showed fighting spirit after the break to cut their losses.

Similar strength of character will be needed in spades if they are to avoid relegation.