11 wins and it’s ours - Mancini

ASTON VILLA 0, MAN CITY 1
MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini has set his players a target of winning at least 11 of their remaining 13 matches if they want to be crowned Barclays Premier League champions.

City returned to the top of the table with yesterday's 1–0 victory at Aston Villa after being deposed for 24 hours by neighbours United.

After winning only one of their previous six away games, it was a vital triumph for City and one which came courtesy of Joleon Lescott's third goal of the season in the 63rd minute.

After a particularly troubled January, Mancini is hoping the worst is behind his team, particularly as City will be back to full strength for their next league game at home to Blackburn in 12 days' time.

Kolo and Yaya Toure will be back from African Nations Cup duty and Mario Balotelli will have completed a four–match ban.

Mancini said: "We know December and January were difficult months. We had players injured, suspended or away. But now we are in February and we are still on top. But to stay on top with Manchester United and Tottenham shows we are very strong.

"We've 13 games until the end of the season, and we know if we want to win the league we have to win 11 or 12, if possible."

Another player who could yet be back in the fold is Carlos Tevez, with Mancini and the Argentinian striker on the brink of ending their three–and–a–half–month feud.

Tevez has been frozen out at City since his refusal to warm up during a Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich at the end of September.

After failing to move the player on during last month's transfer window, it appears as if a resolution is at hand.