mancityblues.com

Good news for Burnley, it sounds as though Captain Steve Caldwell will be back from injury, although whether he has the ability to turn a weak defence into one that can stop the City forwards after an injury lay-off is debatable.

The Clarets are struggling after a bright start, the loss of Owen Coyle and the subsequent appointment of Brian Laws has many fans disgruntled and disheartened. One point from 8 games (1-1 at home to Stoke) is not an encouraging record. Their fans need to get behind their team on TV on Saturday and hope to force a win against the odds, we know (and Brian Laws will know) that City can be susceptible to brute force. It took a dive and a subsequent penalty for Rovers to beat them last week in the derby, I think they will be up for this one like no other - the chance to beat City and the desperate desire to stay up. Chris Eagles came on against Wolves and alongside Robbie Blake, the Clarets seemed a stronger outfit - although they lost that one, too. Maybe Laws will give Eagles a chance to shine this time, he needs to shake up the mix. City old boy Stephen Jordan, who would love to have a go at us again, is unavailable.

Despite the difficult situation at Turf Moor, Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen has called for the home fans to serve as a positive influence on the Clarets' bid to maintain their priceless Premier League status.
He said: "If you come in here to try and create trouble and boo, stay at home - there's no point. But everybody else who is standing behind us, we need you all the way to the end of the season."

As for the blues, we have heard Adebayor this week regretting his faltering season and vowing to win every game until the end, and getting us a Champion's League spot. A commentator during the TV coverage of last weekend's game was saying just before half time "Champion's League? You're havin' a laugh!" Then came Tevez's hat-trick.

We can't be reliant on one man of course, we have a forward line who are all capable of scoring and against a defence like Burnley's there should be plenty of opportunity. Everybody knows how important it is to win and score enough to pull up our goal tally against Spurs, so an ideal opportunity presents itself on Saturday night.

Realistically, in spite of all that Burnley can muster, I will go for an away win to keep us in the running, a 1-2 scoreline this week. No, scrub that, 0-2. They shouldn't be able to score against us.

--------------Given-----------------

Richards---Toure---Kompany----Garrido

A Johnson---DeJong---Barry----Bellers

--------Adebayor---Tevez------------

The only thing that stops me putting RSC in Ade's place is the way Ade seems determined to end the season strongly, Vieira has been issued a challenge by the boss to get some of his old fire back, so he may start in midfield in Barry's place, giving Barry more R&R, otherwise I think Mancini will want a strong team and a strong performance, so SWP is benched for Andy Johnson, who will be more than a handful for Claret's left back. Stevie Ireland is unfit, as are Lescott and Bridge of course. Zaba is serving a two-match ban.

~Clevblue~