City will be Christmas tree-toppers

ROBERTO MANCINI can enjoy the festive period safe in the knowledge his Manchester City side are perched at the summit of the Premier League table on Christmas Day for the first time since 1929 and if they continue to brush past opponents as easily as they did Stoke, it will be hard to see them removed.

However, Mancini certainly will be keen to avoid a repeat of what happened 82 years ago, when City went on an immediate five-match losing streak and ended the season in third place.

With the squad at his disposal, it is hard to imagine Mancini seeing his side go anywhere close to such a woeful run, even with in-form Manchester United hot on their heels.