England - FA Cup
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Played
January 5, 2013 3:00 PM GMT
Etihad Stadium — Manchester
Referee:‬ P. Dowd‎
Attendance:‬ 46821‎
 
25′ Carlos Tévez
 
44′ Gareth Barry
 
90+1′ Marcos Lopes
 

Manchester City - Watford Preview: Premier League champions host Zola's Hornets in FA Cup third round

The build-up to this tie has been dominated by a training ground bust-up between Roberto Mancini and Mario Balotelli, but the hosts must be wary of a dangerous Championship side

By Husmukh Kerai

More On :  Manchester City FC, Watford, Manchester City FC vs Watford
Sergio Aguero,Manchester City
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MANCHESTER CITY

Hart
Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy
Barry, Garcia
Sinclair, Tevez, Milner
Dzeko
WATFORD

Almunia
Hoban, Ekstrand, Neuton, Cassetti
Chalobah, Hogg, Abdi, Pudil
Vydra, Deeney

Roberto Mancini is likely to leave out Mario Balotelli after the two faced off in a training ground bust-up earlier this week, while Sergio Aguero (hamstring) is definitely out after sustaining an injury against Stoke City.

Samir Nasri will miss the game because of a domestic three-match suspension following his red card against Norwich.

Brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure will not take part in the tie after joining up with the Ivory Coast national team this week for the African Cup of Nations.

Alexander Kolarov (groin), Maicon (knee), Micah Richards (knee) and Jack Rodwell (hamstring) all remain sidelined.

Watford manager Gianfranco Zola has only two major doubts for the trip to the Etihad; Connor Smith (knee) and Fitz Hall (hamstring) both look set to miss out.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (hamstring) faces a late fitness test ahead of the match.

Matej Vydra, Troy Deeney and Jonathan Hogg should all return for Watford after being rested in their match against Charlton last time out.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester City have won the FA Cup on five occasions, once under current manager Roberto Mancini in 2011.
  • City have played a total of 141 home matches in the FA Cup, winning 82, drawing 32 and losing 30.

  • The hosts have won 13 and lost just two of their last 19 FA Cup clashes with sides from the second tier of English football.

  • In two previous FA meetings; Watford progressed after two replays in 1986 while City won a fourth round game 4-1 in 1997.
  • Both Premier League matches between Watford and Manchester City in the 2006-07 season ended in draws.
  • Watford lost the 1984 FA Cup final 2-0 to Everton, the closest they have ever come to winning the famous trophy.
  • Watford were eliminated by Premier League opponents last season in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in the fourth round at Vicarage Road.

  • Matej Vydra (pictured) has scored four goals in his last two starts for Watford in all competitions.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Manchester City FC 3-0 Watford
    11.83 %
  • Manchester City FC 4-0 Watford
    7.76 %
  • Manchester City FC 0-8 Watford
    7.56 %
Head to Head
England - FA Cup ‎(FA)‎ Jan 5, 2013 Manchester City FC 3 - Watford 0
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Last Five Matches
Manchester City FC
May 19, 2013Manchester City FC 2 - Norwich City 3EPL
May 14, 2013Reading 0 - Manchester City FC 2EPL
May 11, 2013Manchester City FC 0 - Wigan Athletic 1FA
May 7, 2013Manchester City FC 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
May 4, 2013Swansea 0 - Manchester City FC 0EPL
Watford
May 4, 2013Watford 1 - Leeds 2ENG2
Apr 26, 2013Leicester 1 - Watford 2ENG2
Apr 20, 2013Watford 4 - Blackburn 0ENG2
Apr 16, 2013Millwall 1 - Watford 0ENG2
Apr 13, 2013Peterborough United 3 - Watford 2ENG2
Odds
Returns: Manchester City £11.82 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £560.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Watford £810.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
30Costel PantilimonGoalkeeper
22Gael ClichyDefender
6Joleon LescottDefender
5Pablo ZabaletaDefender
4Vincent KompanyDefender
21David SilvaStriker
18Gareth BarryMidfielder
7James MilnerMidfielder
14Javi GarcíaMidfielder
32Carlos TévezStriker
10Edin DzekoStriker
1Joe HartGoalkeeper
44Karim RekikDefender
33Matija NastasicDefender
36Denis SuárezMidfielder
11Scott Sinclair Midfielder
-Marcos LopesMidfielder
45Mario BalotelliStriker
-Jonathan BondGoalkeeper
12Lloyd DoyleyDefender
26L. EkstrandDefender
-Marco CassettiDefender
-Nathaniel ChalobahDefender
-Nyron NosworthyDefender
-Daniel PudilDefender
28John EustaceMidfielder
-Fernando ForestieriStriker
14Matěj VydraStriker
-Troy DeeneyStriker
-Jack BonhamGoalkeeper
-NeutonDefender
-Cristian BattocchioMidfielder
12IkechiMidfielder
-Mark YeatesMidfielder
-Geoffrey Mujangi-BiaMidfielder
9Alex GeijoStriker
Players to Watch
Scott Sinclair
Scott Sinclair
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 11
Games Goals YC RC
2 0 0 0
The former Swansea winger has barely figured since making a summer switch to the Etihad. Saturday's third round tie should be a rare chance for the 23-year-old to showcase his talents in a City shirt and hopefully make an impression on Roberto Mancini. With Aguero and Balotelli unlikely to feature, Edin Dzeko will hope to feed off the Englishman's service from wide areas.
Matěj Vydra
Matěj Vydra
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 14
Games Goals YC RC
1 0 0 0
The Czech striker, on-loan from Udinese, has bagged 12 goals and five assists this season, quickly becoming an indispensable figure at Vicarage Road. The 20-year-old has flourished under Zola after being moved into a central striking role from his preferred position on the right flank. His partnership with Troy Deeney has provided the goals for Watford this season and the duo will fancy themselves against an unconvincing City defence.
Prediction
Even with the host of stars unavailable for Roberto Mancini, his side should still have plenty of quality in reserve to see off Watford. The FA Cup is City's best chance of silverware this season, as they trail rivals United in the league, so Mancini won't be taking Zola's Watford side lightly. The Hornets have had a stop-start season so far and any result they manage to pull of at the Etihad will come as an almighty shock.
Editor's Prediction
Manchester City 4
Watford 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
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