Frustrated Ireland accuses team-mates of ‘hiding’

MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Stephen Ireland has accused several of his team-mates of “hiding” when the going gets tough.

Ireland was left angry and frustrated after the 3-1 defeat by Hamburg in the UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg match at the Norbank Arena.

It means City now face an uphill task in the return leg at Eastlands on Thursday if they are to reach the last four.

The performance against the Bundesliga high-flyers was all the more galling for Ireland, as he opened the scoring after just 35 seconds.

He showed a cool head to take his tally for the season to 11 goals after combining well with Robinho.

“We have got more quality, but at home we need to show it and be braver,” Ireland told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I think at times some people were hiding and when we had our backs against the wall they were not brave enough to come out and fight.”

City now have to regroup for the home match against Fulham tomorrow.

It is almost certain they will be without Craig Bellamy.

The Wales striker had a scan yesterday but is also likely to be ruled out of the cup match after suffering a recurrence of a knee injury.

In addition, Benjani Mwaruwari re-ruptured his thigh muscle and also faces a spell on the sidelines while Shaun Wright-Phillips is struggling with an ankle problem.

Manager Mark Hughes insists this is no time for self-pity as City go into the Fulham game on the back of six straight home league wins.

He said: “We just have to pick ourselves up, we have another game at the weekend that becomes really important for us.”