Shay given early glimpse of City circus

THERE must be a sadomasochistic streak buried deep within Shay Given. Having finally extricated himself from the Newcastle United madhouse, booking into the loony bin that is Manchester City seems akin to a particularly extreme form of self-flagellation.

Then again, perhaps Given simply enjoys a challenge. He was given an early taste of what to expect at Eastlands on Saturday, somehow chalking up his first clean sheet despite the best efforts of his defence to sabotage his City debut.

Given made a string of superb saves — all from the luckless Afonso Alves — and ended the afternoon with the applause of a grateful home faithful ringing in his ears. If he had closed his eyes, he might just have been back at St James’s Park.

“Sometimes you get those days when you think you’re unbeatable,” he said. “This move has given me a new lease of life. There’s a real buzz in my stomach and I feel like a kid again really.”

Given’s display will have reassured Giovanni Trapattoni that there will be no Toon-related hangover when his number one lines up against Georgia on Wednesday. In truth, given the Donegal man’s consummate professionalism throughout his career, that was never likely to be a genuine threat.

Consummate professionalism is not a phrase that readily associates itself with Craig Bellamy, but the Welsh striker — another high profile arrival during the January transfer window — is quickly proving that being “high-maintenance” is no barrier to success.

He scored with typical elan here to break Middlesbrough’s rearguard and register his second goal in three games since joining.

Given knows only too well how demanding Bellamy can be on team unity — he saw the striker’s poisonous spat with Alan Shearer at close quarters at Newcastle — but insists his eccentricities must be indulged.

“That’s just the way Craig is,” Given said. “He’s had a few spats with other players. I had one with him myself [when Bellamy was at West Ham] down the tunnel at Newcastle, but you just know what he’s like.

“He’s always complaining about something, but it’s just the way he is. He is a fiery sort of character and he demands the best of all the players.

“But it’s a good trait to have. I’d much prefer him on my team than on the opposition’s.” After finding themselves in the bottom three on Christmas Day, it now seems unlikely City will spend any more time fearing what is below them.

The next targets should be Wigan and West Ham, then sixth-placed Everton, who are nine points ahead of City but have played a game more.

However, it seems certain they will have to cope without Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has been restricted to pleading for a lesser charge than violent conduct for his petulant kick at Rory Delap last weekend. A three-match suspension is due to be confirmed today.

Gareth Southgate, meanwhile, has far greater problems. This was Middlesbrough’s 13th successive winless outcome in the Premier League, a run that has dumped them into the relegation zone.

The transfer-window arrival of Marlon King does not appear pivotal and while owner Steve Gibson is unlikely to be lured into any knee-jerk reactions, Southgate will need to dig deep to find solutions to Boro’s present malaise.

“No one needs to take pressure off me,” he said. “It is for me to carry, because the players need to be able to go out and play.”

MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3): Given 8, Richards 6, Onuoha 5, Kompany 6, Bridge 5, Zabaleta 6, De Jong 6, Ireland 6, Wright-Phillips 6, Bellamy 6, Robinho 6 (Caicedo 83, 5).

Subs Not Used: Hart, Elano, Vassell, Garrido, Fernandes, Evans.

MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Jones 7, Wheater 6, Riggott 5 (Hoyte 68, 5), Huth 6, Pogatetz 6, A Johnson 6 (Tuncay 74, 5), Bates 6, Digard 5 (O’Neil 60, 5), Downing 6, Alves 6, King 6.

Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Emnes, Shawky, Arca.

REFEREE: Andre Mariner (Coventry) 7: Competent display. In truth, there was little to vex the officials.

MATCH RATING: ** The standard was hardly sky-high, but the inept defending kept fans interested.