Team News

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will be without the services of Mario Balotelli [ankle] and Gareth Barry [suspension] as well as Kolo and Yaya Toure, who have been forced to report for African Cup of Nations duty with Ivory Coast.The Citizens boss hopes Edin Dzeko [knee] and Samir Nasri [illness] will recover in time, but Owen Hargreaves is unlikely to be available to face his former club.

Meanwhile, Manchester United still have defensive injury problems with Chris Smalling [tonsilitis] and Jonny Evans [calf] joining long-term casualties Nemanja Vidic and Fabio on the treatment table.

It remains to be seen whether Anders Lindegaard will keep his place in goal ahead of summer signing David De Gea after playing his part in a mix-up for Newcastle United's third goal in the midweek defeat at the Sports Direct Arena.


Ferguson without defensive duo for City clash

Sir Alex Ferguson will be without the services of defenders Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans when Manchester United take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in their FA Cup third round clash on Sunday.

The Red Devils boss revealed that he has no new injury problems ahead of this weekend's encounter, but admits that United are still a little thin on the ground with Brazilian full-back Fabio, and club captain Nemanja Vidic ruled out for the rest of the season.

"We don't have any changes. Fortunately we had no injuries on Wednesday so we'll have the same squad for Sunday," confirmed Ferguson.

"There's no progress really to report. Chris Smalling is the one I'd love to get back but he's got a really bad bout of tonsillitis. We expect to have him training by Monday.

"Jonny Evans has still got his calf injury. But there are enough experienced players in the squad to cope with a really difficult tie on Sunday."

United go into Sunday's Manchester derby on the back of successive defeats, and are still smarting from their 6-1 humbling against City at Old Trafford in the Barclays Premier League.

However, Ferguson insists that in the FA Cup, the form book goes out the window and he hopes his players will rise to the challenge this weekend.

"I always say about the FA Cup, I’d take anybody in a home draw. So the advantage is with City this time in respect of the home draw.

"But it's a cup tie, it's a local derby and anything can happen in these games."


Match

this will be an amazing game!
hope City wins =D

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what an interesting match to watch ! i just pray Utd wins.

@ united and it's fans
City will feast on you guys for the 2nd time in a row.

Van snickers:

@ united and it's fans
City will feast on you guys for the 2nd time in a row.

No, united will win by 3 goals to 1. Or still 2 goals to nil.

Man city will whoop MANU. SAF is in for another shocker a pre-Alex Ferguson must leave now campaign trigger

Nani's form has dropped, so i and Roney nt settled? how can manu win?

Man u should just try to be okay in there midfield today orelse its gona be anoda defeat for them

UTD to win - I just wish!

With the way it is now I will prefer to take on Man U later in the game. Man U looks beatable. I expect Man U to prevail without those assassins that have gone for Nations Cup in the Man City team. I dread that Mancity club like anything. They just humiliated my dear Liverpool club. May Man U win so that I can face Man U. If Mancity wins then I pity who ever faces them after the nations cup.

Should be a great game. I predict man. U. to win, narrowly.
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Big Match !!
I hope MU at least can reap 1 poin

united bring back paul scholes  , things are not getting better in the premiership , lots of incompetent players in the league , they have to bring back old legs ,      http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/08012012/58/premier-league-scholes-shock-man-utd-return.html

Joe hart rested?

is citeh feeling sorry for united

teams coming in . ,

game on

nani na goat

lescott trying to be sleek

damn citeh is mean. see scumtwats defending so early in the game

4 possessions conceded by giggs already. . . . .
Just saying

yes the game is on, too bad no Balotelli .

Muki stop talking to your self, or do you see imaginary people?

gooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

rooneyy

GOAL !!!! Rooney

Rooooneyyyyyy.!

No better explanation for 'against the run of play'

roooneeeyy what a goal

edoyad:

yes the game is on, too bad no Balotelli .

Muki stop talking to your self, or do you see imaginary people?

shurrrrrrup boy or else you go hold your ear



redcard kompannyyyy!!!!

Red card.

Chris Foy, was that a mistake? you no know say na red dey ur backpocket ? 

na wa o

this ref don start ni o

How can that be a red card?