Played
February 17, 2013 2:00 PM GMT
Etihad Stadium — Manchester
Referee:‬ M. Clattenburg‎
Attendance:‬ 46849‎
 
 
16′ (PG) Sergio Agüero
 
 
 

Manchester City - Leeds Preview: Mancini's men look to recover from Southampton humiliation

With the FA Cup now looking like the Premier League champions' best chance of silverware, Roberto Mancini's side will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last weekend's upset

By Alex Hess

EPL, Southampton v Manchester City, Roberto Mancini
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER CITY

Hart
Maicon, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolarov
Silva, Rodwell, Y.Toure, Milner
Dzeko, Tevez
LEEDS UNITED
  Leeds
Kenny
Green, Peltier, Lees, Warnock
Byram, Brown, Norris
Diouf, Morison, Varney

For the first time in a number of weeks, Roberto Mancini is likely to have the vast majority of his players available for selection for Sunday's meeting.

Crucially, the Italian could welcome back his captain Vincent Kompany (calf), who has been sidelined since City's last FA Cup fixture in late January.

Micah Richards (knee) is the only player certain to be ruled out, with Kolo and Yaya Toure both having returned from the Africa Cup of Nations duty prior to the defeat to Southampton.

Neil Warnock is also hoping to have a fully-fit squad to pick from, while neither of his January acquisitions Stephen Warnock or Steve Morison cup-tied for the clash.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester City have conceded nine goals in the five cup games that they have played on home turf this season.
  • The two clubs have faced each other in the FA Cup five times before, with the Yorkshire club having advanced three times to Man City's two.
  • James Milner (pictured right) began his career at Leeds, and became the Premier League's youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer during his time there - breaking the record held by Wayne Rooney by just five days at the age of 17.
  • In January 2000, when both clubs were in English football's top tier, Leeds thrashed Manchester City 5-2. 12 years on, Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions, while Leeds finished 14th in the division beneath.
  • Likewise, Leeds skipper Michael Brown started out at Manchester City. He was sent off 10 minutes into his debut in August 1995.


Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
Head to Head
FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ 17 Feb 2013 Manchester City 4 - Leeds 0
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Last Five Matches
Odds
Returns: Manchester City £11.70 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Draw £70.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Returns: Leeds £180.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Team News
Available Squads
30Costel PantilimonGoalkeeper
13Aleksandar KolarovDefender
28Kolo ToureDefender
33Matija NastasicDefender
5Pablo ZabaletaDefender
21David SilvaStriker
7James MilnerMidfielder
14Javi GarcíaMidfielder
42Yaya Touré Midfielder
32Carlos TévezStriker
16Sergio AgüeroStriker
1Joe HartGoalkeeper
22Gael ClichyDefender
6Joleon LescottDefender
3MaiconDefender
17Jack RodwellMidfielder
8Samir NasriMidfielder
10Edin DzekoStriker
21Jamie AshdownGoalkeeper
-Lee PeltierDefender
13Stephen WarnockDefender
22Tom LeesDefender
28Aidan WhiteDefender
-Rodolph AustinMidfielder
-Samuel BryamMidfielder
15Luke VarneyStriker
8Michael BrownMidfielder
18El-Hadji DioufStriker
44Ross McCormackStriker
1Paddy KennyGoalkeeper
-Jason PearceDefender
8David NorrisMidfielder
23Michael TongeMidfielder
-Ryan HallMidfielder
-Mouhamadou Habib HabibouStriker
5Steve MorisonStriker
Players to Watch
James Milner
James Milner
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
6 0 1 0
A willing and intelligent off-the-ball runner, the winger may not be City's most fashionable attacker but he remains an effective one. Playing against his hometown club on Sunday, Milner will be need no extra motivation to put in a typically tireless performance.
Luke Varney
Luke Varney
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 15
Games Goals YC RC
3 1 0 0
The striker is far from the most talented member of the current Leeds squad, but his industry, aggression and work rate is key. Varney scored the goal that made the difference against Tottenham in the last round of this competition, and will be looking to repeat the feat against a defence that leaked three to Southampton in their last fixture.
Prediction
With the likes of Michael Brown, El-Hadji Diouf and Neil Warnock himself, what can be guaranteed is that the visitors will do their utmost to hassle, harry and intimidate Manchester City on Sunday, and there can be little doubt that victory for either side will come at the price of 90 minutes of gruelling labour.

That said, though, quality more often than not tends to shine through, and the extra impetus served up by last weekend's hapless loss to Southampton should give Mancini's men the edge they needs to dispatch the Yorkshire club.
Editor's Prediction
Leeds 0
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Danny  Hylton Danny Hylton
Striker
Aldershot
8 0
Carlos Tévez Carlos Tévez
Striker
Manchester City
5 0
Scott  Rendell Scott Rendell
Striker
Luton Town
4 1
Marvin  Sordell Marvin Sordell
Striker
Bolton
4 1
Demba Ba Demba Ba
Striker
Chelsea
4 0