Stoke reax

Joe Bernstein, Mail on Sunday

Bridge alone could be exempt from criticism. In front of England coach Fabio Capello, he showed why he was regarded as the natural stand-in for Ashley Cole before the John Terry affair. He was capable in his defending, adventurous going forward and made a terrific block to deny Liam Lawrence.

Paul Wilson, The Observer

City were so poor without their two leading lights that it was hard to take Mancini's claim of wanting to be in the last eight seriously. It might be an idea at least to have them on the bench for the replay. While Bellamy could be back for the league game at the Britannia on Tuesday, Tevez is in Argentina for the birth of his child.

Stoke were City's opponents in Mancini's first game in charge and here, despite making three changes within an hour and giving away an embarrassing early goal, the visitors gave a better account of themselves. They came back at City and claimed a deserved equaliser, something they never managed in December.

Tim Rich, Independent on Sunday

Although Wright-Phillips' unchallenged runs and a comfortable, controlled display by Gareth Barry, would have interested the England manager, it is Manchester City's left-back who would have been at the centre of his vision. Bridge may not have justified Mancini's description of him as "the best left-back in England" but he was impressively solid in the first half, rather looser after the break.