Forgotten man Vieira ensures no City jitters

MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini was pleased with the way his side stuck to their task and came through a difficult first half-hour against Notts County to finally book their place in the FA Cup fifth round.

The League One visitors took the game to their opponents from kick-off and could have gone ahead but were denied after Karl Hawley’s shot rebounded back off a post.

Midway through the first half City took control and in the 37th minute Patrick Vieira nodded in the opener.

His second header 12 minutes after the interval put the hosts in the comfort zone and the scoreline was given something of a distorted look with goals from Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Micah Richards in the last six minutes.

“In the first half an hour Notts County played very well,” admitted Mancini. “It was an important win. I think for us it (the FA Cup) is important. We started the game so slowly because when you play every three days it is difficult to play 100% in every game.

“But after we scored it changed the game. We had more chances in the second half and it was important we scored those goals.”

The majority of Vieira’s appearances have been in cup competitions but his two headers doubled his tally of goals for the season.

Mancini was pleased to see the 34-year-old making important contributions, while he was also happy with the progress of January signing Dzeko – who should have scored a second in second-half injury-time but hit his shot too close to goalkeeper Stuart Nelson.

So far the former Wolfsburg striker has only scored against Notts County, he got the equaliser in the first meeting at Meadow Lane, but Mancini is happy to give him time.

The Italian, meanwhile, dismissed speculation that summer signing David Silva was homesick and looking to move back to Spain. He said: “Today he played very well but he has never spoken to me about this.”

Notts County boss Paul Ince felt his side were unlucky not to be ahead before City scored but admitted they needed to take their opportunities to have a chance of beating their Premier League opponents.

“I thought we did ever so well and with a bit of luck we could have been 1-0 in front,” said the former Manchester United midfielder.

“That is what you need when you come to places like this.”

MAN CITY: Hart, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Kolarov, Balotelli (Tevez 60), Vieira, Toure Yaya (Barry 81), Silva (Jo 86), Zabaleta, Dzeko.

NOTTS COUNTY: Nelson, Darby (Thompson 60), Edwards, Pearce (Chilvers 90), Harley, Hawley, Ravenhill, Bishop, Westcarr, Gow, Hughes (Gobern 80).

Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).