Our blue boys will recover

The City kit boss and former Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport

MANCHESTER City’s 3-1 defeat at Southampton was one of those days when everything goes wrong.

We looked jaded at certain points in the game.

Gareth Barry couldn’t score an own goal like that again if he tried — that’s football.

It was difficult for the likes of Yaya Toure, who had spent three weeks with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The conditions and humidity over there were completely different to the English South Coast.

And with players coming back from all over the world after international duty, a bit of jet lag can also play a part.

Obviously it is going to be very difficult to retain our Premier League title and prevent United taking it.

All we can do now is concentrate on bouncing back, starting with this weekend’s home clash with Leeds in the FA Cup fifth round.

It is fair to say it has been quieter at the club since the departure of Mario Balotelli. To say he was a character is putting it mildly.

Though he had his ups and downs, we saw flashes of brilliance and it is clear Mario is capable of being a match-winner.

I am sure everyone here wishes him the best of luck.

As for the other clubs in the Cup fifth round, it is great to see my old club Athletic still in there.

After their heroics against Liverpool, they have the opportunity to claim another Merseyside scalp.

It is going to be tough, as Toffees boss David Moyes is likely to field a strong side.

It will be a difficult one for Joe Royle, who enjoyed excellent spells at both clubs — maybe he’s hoping for a draw!