FA Cup: Notts County V Manchester City – Sunday, 30th January (LIVE on ITV1)

 

Notts County V Manchester City

Sunday, 30th January – 14:00 (GMT)
Venue: Meadow Lane
TV Coverage: ITV1

 

Notts County

There aren’t too many sets of supporters who can claim they’ve seen as much drama on and off the field than Notts County’s, several times over as well. Since the summer of 2009, the club has had two different sets of owners, five different managers and a number of celebrity signings, not to mention severe financial unrest. Fortunately, the club appears to have landed on its feet and the reward for the supporters, who have had to endure a stressful fifteen months, is an exciting run in the FA Cup which looks likely to climax on Sunday with a dream date with England’s richest imports.

This season alone we’ve already seen three different managers in the hot-seat at Meadow Lane, though the current one has already endeared himself to the club’s supporters and the board. Paul Ince, a manager which endured a disappointing spell at Blackburn Rovers just a couple of seasons ago, has enjoyed instant success with the Magpies. Their position in League One has stabalised, with the club now four-points above the relegation zone following a quite stunning run of form which has seen Ince’s side lose just one of their eight in the league, ten in all competitions.

Nicknamed ‘The Guvnor’, Paul Ince has certainly laid down the law during his still youthful tenure as Notts County manager. However, his defining moment so far was unquestionably the 2-1 victory at the Stadium of Light over Sunderland in the Third Round, a venue which only three teams had won at in the whole of 2010, and ironically where their Fourth Round opponent’s, Man City, were beaten 1-0 earlier in the season.

Although they certainly wouldn’t begrudge a win, a result which would go right down amongst the biggest shocks in the tournament’s long and prestigious history, a draw would be a rewarding outcome for all parties. A trip to Eastlands for a replay which would almost certainly be shown live on ESPN, would be lucrative for the club, though probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for the players. And a draw would appear a viable outcome judging by how strong their defence has been this season. Since the start of the season, County have kept a total of seven clean sheets at home, and so, up against a team with the most amount of clean sheets in the Premier League, a 0-0 draw just might be on the cards.

 

Manchester City

It had been reported that Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has spent somewhere in the region of £1.1billion in refurbishing the club, basically converting the Eastlands outfit into a team capable of dominating all formats of the game. However, despite the United Arab Emirates Politician handing out blank cheque books to Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini, the 31-year old has yet to see any visible return of his investment. I’m sure the least he expects this season, after ploughing almost half-a-billion into the recruitment of superstars, is some silverware so it’s about time those who are paid extravagant wages at the club, the players, start delivering their side of the bargain.

Roberto Mancini still insists that qualifying for the Champions League remains the club’s ultimate goal, which it probably is, we aren’t going to debate that. But a team which cost a handsome amount to assemble should be challenging for trophies in every competition they enter. It was clear from the outset that the Italian wasn’t interested in the Carling Cup, when naming a weakened team and exiting at the earlier possible stage to West Brom. However, he signalled his intent to clinch the 2010/2011 FA Cup when naming two fiercely strong teams against Leicester City in the Third Round, not that you could tell straight off. A replay was required in order for City to finally kill off their Championship foes, and it would appear the influx of foreign stars have yet to get to grips with the basics of what the FA Cup is all about; a competition where the underdogs rarely roll over but tend to bite you right on the backside should you show the slightest bit of complacency, which City did against the Foxes.

Ironically, City’s lacklustre display against Leicester in the original tie, which they drew 2-2, would prove infectious as ever since the Citizens haven’t been themselves. Defensively, well they’ve been awful. Joe Hart and his normally rock-solid defence boast the most amount of clean sheets in the Premier League for the season, yet you wouldn’t of know judging by their latest displays. Either side of their Third Round tussle with Leciester – City drawing 2-2 at Leicester before winning 4-2 at home – was almost a collapse at home to Wolves, where City led 4-1 but ended up winning 4-3. So it’s now eight goals conceded in their last four games, the latest coming at Villa Park in a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa as Mancini’s men tasted their first dose of defeat for over a month, just their second since the end of October.

Their recent displays have left a lot to be desired, especially at the back. Saturday’s trip to Notts County for their Fourth Round FA Cup tie does at least provide them with an ample opportunity to restore some pride and confidence in their defensive department with a clean sheet. Whether Joe Harts starts or not remains to be seen, with Shay Given waiting in the wings. However one player who won’t make an appearance is skilful winger Adam Johnson who missed out with an ankle injury. Edin Dzeko, though, will get his first taste of FA Cup football in a week which seen Emmanuel Adebayor take his counter-productive nature elsewhere to Real Madrid – more fool Jose Mourinho.

—————————————————

2010/2011 FA Cup Results

Notts County

First Round: Notts County 2-0 Gateshed
Second Round: Notts County 3-1 Bournemouth
Third Round: Sunderland 1-2 Notts County

Manchester City

Third Round: Leicester City 2-2 Manchester City
Third Round Replay: Manchester City 4-2 Leicester City

—————————————————

Pointers

Notts County

- Notts County overcame Premiership opposition in the last round when beating Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.

- The Magpies haven’t won any of their last three matches, scoring just one goal in 270 minutes of football.

- Meadow Lane has been a defensive fortress for Notts County, the Magpies keeping eight clean sheets in all competitions at home this season.

Manchester City

- The Citizens have suffered just one defeat in their last seven matches in all competitions, and just two in their last eighteen.

- Their 1-0 defeat away to Aston Villa last Saturday was City’s first away loss on the road since losing 3-1 to Lech Poznan in the Europa League (4 November), Mancini’s men were unbeaten in their previous eight away contests beforehand.

- Have conceded exactly one goal in six of their last eight away matches.

Head-to-Head

- The last meeting between the two was back in 2001, City winning 4-2 at Meadow Lane during a League Cup clash.

- City also won the most recent FA Cup encounter, though required a replay after drawing the original tie 2-2 at Notts County. The Manchester outfit won the replay 5-2 at home.

- Manchester City are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Notts County, the Citizens winning seven.

- Notts County’s last triumph fittingly came in the FA Cup, a 1-0 victory almost twenty years ago.

—————————————————

Match Prediction: Manchester City to WIN – 1.45 Unibet

It was some year for Notts County, though one which did at least end on a high. The Magpies, under manager Paul Ince, have only lost one of their last eight league games, ten in all competitions, while the highlight of the entire campaign thus far was undoubtedly their victory over Sunderland in the third round. The fact they had to contend with the aurora of the Stadium of Light just makes that result more impressive, though, somewhat ironically, their task is a great deal harder this weekend.

Not to take any of the shine off their Sunderland triumph, however the Black Cats are hardly a model of consistency and fortunately for County, the Wearsiders had an off-day when they met them a little over two weeks ago. Don’t get me wrong, the Magpies were outstanding. Very plucky, but also fearless with regards to how they attacked. However, Manchester City are a different kettle of fish, and a far tougher proposition. Roberto Mancini will put out an ultra strong team which should prove far too strong for their hosts.

There could be a number of changes in the City line-up, however few boast as much depth and diversity in their squad as the Citizens. Should be relatively straightforward, although that’s what everyone though in the last round yet it took the richest club in the land two games to dispatch Leicester City.

Value Bet: Edin Dzeko First Goalscorer – 4.33 Bet365

The Bosnian striker has yet to adapt to life in England, nor has he gotten to grips with the English game, so a run-out against mediocre opposition should do him the world of good. The City striker should start, with Carlos Tevez set to be one of several key men rested for the trip to Meadow Lane.

Match Odds:

Notts County – 8.00 Coral
Draw – 4.75 Boylesports
Manchester City – 1.45 Unibet