Eriksson needs to find a Plan B

SVEN-GORAN Eriksson admits Manchester City will need a tactical rethink if they are to remain in the hunt for a European place.

This dismal draw extended City’s run without a win at Eastlands to six Premier League matches and made the days when they appeared to harbour hopes of the Champions League seem even more distant.

The Latics stifled the life out of the hosts, who struggled for creativity, and Steve Bruce’s side could even have snatched a victory in the closing stages.

And Eriksson, who very rarely departed from his tried and trusted formula when England coach, believes the time has now come to try something new.

“We haven’t been winning for a while now. It happens and no-one coming to our home ground plays open football any more,” he said.

“They did it in the beginning because they didn’t know us. Elano (City’s chief playmaker) will not have space or time in that position any more and he had it in the beginning. We have to think about other things.”

City have recorded just two victories in the league since mid-December and that has dealt a damaging blow to their European aspirations as they have slipped to eighth in the table.

However, Eriksson insists they remain confident of being able to secure a UEFA Cup spot.

“If we keep on dropping a lot of points it will be very difficult but it can go the other way,” added the Swede.

“If we start to pick up points soon Europe is quite possible because the difference with teams around us is not that big.”

Wigan appeared more than happy to settle for a draw but their man of the match Wilson Palacios could have snatched victory late on had goalkeeper Joe Hart not produced a smart save and the Honduran midfielder blazed the rebound over.

MANCHESTER CITY: Hart 8, Corluka 6, Dunne 7, Onuoha 5, Ball 7, Vassell 7, Gelson 6, Elano 6, Johnson 7, Ireland 7, Mwaruwari 5.

Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Caicedo, Hamann, Garrido, Castillo.

WIGAN: Kirkland 7, Melchiot 7, Scharner 7, Boyce 7, Edman 5, Valencia 5, Brown 5, Palacios 8, Koumas 6, Heskey 7, King 7.

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Sibierski, Bramble, Olembe, Bent.

REFEREE: Steve Bennett (Kent) 6: Nothing too controversial to exert him, although Michael Brown might have been dismissed for a poor foul.

MATCH RATING: * Desperate stuff. Eriksson clearly hasn’t lost all the bad habits he learned with England.