Balotelli’s contribution to City victory

Controversial Mario Balotelli struck a more positive note for City against Watford in the FA Cup - and helped to achieve a dream debut for City’s most promising young player.

The Italian striker played for 20 hugely influential minutes in the stroll to a 3–0 win over Watford, including the assist for an injury–time goal by Marcos Lopes, a Portuguese attacking midfielder who turned 17 last week.

Mancini had been planning to give Lopes his debut for some time and the player, a late substitute in the dying minutes, was dumbstruck at his achievement.

He said: "I trained on Friday and the coach told me I was in the squad to play but to come on after 86 minutes and score a goal... I have no words to explain it."

Carlos Tevez's rocket of a free–kick which fizzed into the net from 25 yards opened the scoring and Gareth Barry's header just before the break "knocked the stuffing out of Watford", to use City assistant manager David Platt's words.

City's thoughts will now turn to once more trying to rein in league leaders Manchester United. Mancini's men did so last season, and Spanish midfielder David Silva said the target was to cut the gap by the end of February.