Late Christmas present for Boyata as City see off Boro

MANCHESTER CITY defender Dedryck Boyata received the perfect compensation for missing a family Christmas when he was handed his senior debut at Middlesbrough.

The 19-year-old was drafted into Roberto Mancini’s starting line-up for Saturday’s FA Cup third round trip to the Riverside Stadium after being told to cancel a planned trip back to his native Belgium over the festive period.

Having spent the previous two games of the Italian’s reign to date sitting on the bench, he played a significant part in a third successive clean sheet as City edged their way past Championship Boro and into the hat for the fourth round draw.

Belgium U21 international Boyata said: “I was due to fly home on Christmas Eve, but then I was told I had to stay back to train, so I was a bit upset at first.

“But I have been training with some fantastic players every day since, and now to make my debut is a fantastic feeling.

“I did not have the chance to ring anyone before the game and I did not really want to hear them at that point.

“But I made sure I texted them so all my family know I have played. I spoke to my dad right after the game and they are all delighted for me.”

Boyata got his chance amid a selection crisis which robbed Mancini of defenders Kolo Toure – who is now on African Nations Cup duty – Nedum Onouha and Wayne Bridge, both injured.

With Micah Richards failing to return after the break at the Riverside with a groin problem, Boyata could yet find himself involved in Wednesday night’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg showdown with arch-rivals Manchester United, although Mancini is hopeful both Richards and Onouha could be available.

However, the manager was delighted with the youngster’s contribution on his big day.

He said: “We have many defenders and midfielders injured and have seen him in the past few days.

“He is a good player, he is a young player, but he has a good future. He played very well.”

City’s victory, their third in as many games since Mancini’s arrival, was secured by Benjani Mwaruwari’s 45th-minute strike.

It was Martin Petrov who eventually unlocked the door on the stroke of half-time, sliding Benjani in to beat keeper Danny Coyne from the edge of the area.

Boro responded gamely but never really threatened to trouble Shay Given in the City goal, and the Premier League side might have won more comfortably had Tevez, three times, Bellamy and Petrov made the most of second-half chances.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Coyne, Hoyte, Riggott, Wheater, McMahon, O’Neil, Rhys Williams, Arca (Luke Williams 70), Johnson (Emnes 32), Bent, Franks, Emnes (Yeates 57).

MAN CITY: Given, Richards (Barry 46), Garrido, Sylvinho, Kompany, Zabaleta, Petrov, Weiss (Bellamy 74), De Jong (Tevez 46), Mwaruwari, Boyata.

Referee: Stuart Attwell.