Everton preview pt.2

With six home games in the last nine, starting with Everton tomorrow, the race for fourth is in City's hands. All history as a City fan trains you to know it won't be as easy as that - Fowler could miss that penalty, Lomas might keep it in the corner - but City are in a strong position and backed by a stronger team than on those occasions. The thrashing of all City's previous records alone should be enough to prove that this is no ordinary City season.

The 2-0 defeat at Goodison in January was Mancini's toughest test as City manager yet and the score maybe even flattered City a little bit. Although the architect of that defeat was Fellaini and the City players will be happy not to have to deal with his power on this occasion. Their attributes of hard-work and organisation are complimented by the skills of Arteta and Pienaar, and their recent form suggests a team at the top of their powers.

Incidently Moyes has laughably blamed their poor start this season on the injured Joleon Lescott - funny how one man, completely detached from the Everton set-up, can completely derail a run which would have had them knocking about with Chelsea, Arsenal and United on post-Lescott-crisis form. He then qualified this outburst, like he did last time, with a reminder that it is in the past now. Quite.

Without Lescott, Mancini will probably hand a second start to Garrido, unless Zabaleta switches to left-back with Micah coming in. After the success of the weekend, I would be surprised if there were any changes - although De Jong is unlucky to now find himself on the bench. Therefore I think a probable team will be as follows:

Given; Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Garrido; Johnson, Vieira, Barry, Bellamy; Santa Cruz, Tevez.

Mancini dubbed this a 4-2-4 in his press conference earlier today and whilst it is true Bellamy and especially Johnson are not defensively minded players, they are still charged with the duties of a wide-midfielder. This attacking mindset - as practised in Sporting Lisbon's successful defeat of Everton in the Europa League last month - would give City the impetus, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the three-midfielders option with De Jong earlier than it was called upon against Fulham.

This is our game in hand and a win would really see City establish their fight for fourth. To occupy fourth would be a huge boost mentally for the run-in and would pass the weighting of pressure onto the chasing teams.