Cup offers chance to hit back

The City kit boss and former Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport
AFTER securing a vital result in Moscow, it was very disappointing to slip up at Chelsea on Sunday.

We played very well at Stamford Bridge, especially in the second half when the hosts were pegged back, but after Sergio Aguero’s superb equaliser we went down 2-1.

Fernando Torres capitalised on a mix-up between Joe Hart and Matija Nastasic, after which there was hardly any time to recover.

These things happen in football. Maybe both lads feel they could have done better but one thing I knew for sure was that the national media wouldn’t hesitate in jumping all over Joe again. If you’re an England player and you make a mistake, expect the worst.

Even if you make 50 world-class saves, if one shot goes through your legs you’ve had it. It’s the English mentality.

I think we can take encouragement from the way we played against one of the best teams in the division. Sergio cannot stop scoring at the moment and it was another stunning strike from him.

And David Silva is just on fire. He orchestrated our most dangerous attacks in Moscow and he was at it again during the Chelsea game.

We don’t have to wait long for an opportunity to respond, as we embark on our fourth successive away fixture tomorrow, at Newcastle United in the Capital One Cup.

It might be an opportunity for some of the other players in the squad to show what they are capable of, with the likes of Jack Rodwell and Stevan Jovetic springing to mind.

Stevan played brilliantly against England for Montenegro a few weeks ago and has regained his fitness after an injury-hit start to life at City, so I am sure he is desperate to show what he can do, if he is selected tomorrow night.