City still stuttering as European mission looms large

Stoke 0 Manchester City 0

But, as they prepare for their first Champions League match of the season at Viktoria Plzen tomorrow night and the derby at the weekend, they are still waiting for evidence that issues of squad depth have been resolved.

Pellegrini started with just 14 different players over the course of the impressive 4-0 mauling of Newcastle, the defensive shambles of the 3-2 loss at Cardiff and the scrappy 2-0 win over Hull.