Mancini demands more from Mario

Roberto Mancini has warned Mario Balotelli he cannot expect his work to be done once he has scored.

The controversial Manchester City striker scored his ninth goal of the campaign at Eastlands

yesterday but it was not enough to give the Blues victory over a battling Fulham outfit.

Damien Duff equalised just after half–time and the Cottagers were more likely victors the longer the match went on. And Balotelli was among those taking the blame.

"I am not happy with Mario," said Mancini. "I know him very well and I know he can play better. He can play for the team

"He scored a fantastic goal but there were still 70 minutes left.

"He can't lose the ball all the time. Every time the ball went to the front, we didn't keep it."

As Mancini was forced to replace Edin Dzeko with Patrick Vieira in an attempt to shore up City's midfield, his experiment of playing all three big name strikers might have to be scrapped for Wednesday's FA Cup fifth round tie with Aston Villa.

As his team failed to gain a win on home soil which would have maintained a semblance of a title challenge, Mancini's mood was probably not the best as the full–time whistle went.