City 2 - 1 Fulham

• I didn't see the game so I don't have too much to say. But that we cannot allow ourselves to get so sucked in by the prospects of a top four finish that we ignore the importance of the domestic cups. For many obvious reasons, domestic cup success is crucial this year and so the further we get the better.

• And it's testament to the newfound mental strength of City this season that we came from behind to win this game in extra time. Of course, we are good enough to beat Fulham reserves at home, but it's not always that easy.

• Given that it was an otherwise first choice team it was interesting to see Pablo Zabaleta in at right-back ahead of Micah Richards. It's not like this was a much changed side of the type that big four teams put out in the League Cup. It will be interesting to see if he starts on Monday.
  

Fulham preview

With the stoppage time row subsiding (much as it pains me to say it the referee does, in retrospect, seem justified in playing as much time as he did), and Craig Bellamy having, somehow, avoided punishment for hitting the fan, the remaining open issues from the derby seem to have been tied up. Which is a relief. Disappointments like Sunday can eat away if not dealt with correctly.

To complete the process of moving on, to get what victims of crime call 'closure', we need a good win against Fulham this evening. We must not allow our frustration at failing to get a point at Old Trafford (not many teams do, you know) to let our eyes drift off our targets. And for all the 'City can make the top four' stuff we're hearing at the moment (maybe we can, but we'll see) we cannot ignore the importance of the domestic cups.

So a win tonight is crucial. Fortunately, we've got a decent shot. Roy Hodgson, who is attempting to juggle three tournaments (one of which is the newly-inflated Europa League group stage), has declared that he will put out a second string side this evening. I'd like to think that we could beat Fulham's first team at home, but it stands to reason that we are more likely to beat their second eleven than their first choice. It is worth remembering Fulham's bizarrely good record at CoMS: since the start of the 2005/06 season they have won only nine away games in the Premier League - and three of them have been at Eastlands.

What sort of team will we put out? It seems as if Craig Bellamy, despite avoiding an FA ban, will not play anyway due to his niggling knee injury. Which leaves us with no fit forwards. Carlos Tévez seems to be less injured than Roque Santa Cruz or Robinho, and less suspended that Emmanuel Adebayor and so will have to lead the line again. Unless Vladimir Weiss is given his first start we should see Martin Petrov and SWP either side of Carlitos. The midfield three will presumably continue to be Nigel de Jong, Gareth Barry and Stephen Ireland. And I don't forsee any changes in defence unless Hughes decides to give Pablo Zabaleta or Sylvinho a game.


I like it. And I'm feeling confident. How does 3-0 sound? Two for Tévez and one for Ireland. And some game time for Vlad and maybe even David Ball too. I won't be able to watch the game though so my post-match post will just be a few general points. If you want analysis and player ratings you will have to go elsewhere.

Captain Kolo looks forward

We must not let the frustrations of Sunday distract us from the next few games:

“Fulham gives us the chance to get back on the winning trail and show another side to our character,” he declared.

The Carling Cup is very important to us and we are now 100 per cent focused on the tie tomorrow night. Winning a trophy of any description is a fantastic feeling and that is what we want to do.

“I wasn’t surprised when the manager sent out such a strong side for the last round at Crystal Palace because we have a lot of new players and it gave us more valuable on the pitch time to gel as a team. We did the job well that night and hopefully we will reproduce that tomorrow. We want to show everyone that we are one of the best teams in the competition.”

Fulham date confirmed

It's going to be on Wednesday 23rd September at 8pm.

Something which gives us a really good shot at this is the fixture congestion Fulham are facing. The tie comes as the fourth in a seven game run Fulham have to play in just twenty days. They have Everton (h) on Sunday 13th, before travelling to Martin Petrov's old club CSKA Sofia on Thursday 17th, before Wolves (a) on Sunday 20th. Then it's this Carling Cup game with City, before Arsenal (h) on Saturday 26th, Basel (Felipe Caicedo's old club) at home on Thursday October 1st, and then a trip along the length of the Hammersmith & City line to the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 3rd.

It's a punishing schedule for any team, but it could well force compromises on Fulham given the limited size of their squad. And we can only hope that it's our game when they rest their best players. Because Fulham have a fantastic record at City: since the start of the 2005/06 season they have won only nine away games in the Premier League - and three of them have been at Eastlands.