Manchester City need to score more goals

City missed a number of good opportunities at the Stadium of Light, but failed to find the net as they slipped seven points behind Manchester United in the title race.

"It is impossible that our strikers didn't score," said Mancini. "It is a big problem at this moment.

"We are too soft in attack and too soft when we have chances and shoot."

City have scored 34 goals in 19 matches in the Premier League this season - 14 fewer than neighbours United, who beat Newcastle 4-3 on Wednesday, have managed in as many games.

Perhaps more tellingly, they have only scored 12 in nine games on their travels, compared to United's 22 from 10.

Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Edin Dzeko were all denied by Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet on a frustrating afternoon for the champions.

"We didn't deserve to lose. We dominated, so I don't know how it is possible that we lost this game," said Mancini.

"Last year, we scored one, two, three goals every game. Now when we have chances, we are too soft and this is not good.

"We should be very strong when we have chances, sometimes we take one extra touch and maybe think 'Okay, we will score next time.' But football is not like that.

"We have a fantastic attitude because we want to win right up until the last second but we can't recover every game. We need to score before that, we had five or six chances in the first half. It's incredible."

Despite City falling seven points behind United at the halfway stage of the season, Mancini says his team can still defend their title.

"United score a lot of goals, but they also concede more than us," he said.

"It depends on us because the season is long and we can recover, no problem, but we need to change something in our team because we cannot continue like this."

Mancini was also upset with referee Kevin Friend, who he believes missed a foul by Craig Gardner on Pablo Zabaleta in the build-up to Sunderland's goal - scored by former City winger Adam Johnson.

"Maybe Zabaleta deserved a red card?" Mancini said sarcastically. "I don't think the referee and linesman had a good performance today.

"It is impossible that they didn't see a foul like that."

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Rafael Benitez boos will continue

Benitez was jeered in his technical area during Sunday's match against Manchester City.

"We want the powers that be to realise we didn't want him," said Trizia Fiorellino, chair of Chelsea Supporters' Group. 
David Johnstone, spokesman for the cfcuk fanzine,  says booing "doesn't help the team".
Former Liverpool manager Benitez took over from Roberto Di Matteo, who was sacked after the team lost to Juventus in the Champions League.
Following Sunday's 0-0 draw with Manchester City, Benitez said that he wanted to change the perception of the fans by winning games.
But Fiorellino said: "The strength of feeling surprised even those in charge . It was quite venomous right at the beginning.
"The fans don't expect to pick and choose the managers but it was pretty evident there were only two people that were not acceptable in this case - Benitez and Avram Grant.
"It was almost as if the board and the owner were trying to send a message to the fans to say 'we run this club, not you - you have no say'.
"Benitez is not popular and I think he will remain unpopular throughout his reign."

Benitez has upset Chelsea fans at various times by accusing former Blues striker Didier Drogba of diving, and saying when Liverpool boss:  "We don't need to give away flags for our fans to wave - our supporters are always there with their hearts, and that is all we need.

"It's the passion of the fans that helps to win matches - not flags."
Johnstone understands the negative reaction because of the fractious relationship between Benitez and the Chelsea fans when the Spaniard was Reds boss.
He said: "I think it'll probably be something we'll be talking about for the rest of the season.
"I feel it would be best for the manager to come out and fully explain his comments about the supporters. When he was the Liverpool manager, what he said was more than banter. I don't think managers should get involved in that kind of thing.
"I like to think it would help if he confronted these issues but he's going to have to do a lot to convince people. Even if he wins things I don't think people will be convinced."
Johnstone also believes that some of Benitez's comments since he joined Chelsea have caused discontent among the fans, in particular the suggestion that senior players Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole could leave the club.
"Fans are extremely upset about what he said about Lampard and Cole. The crowd are desperate for them to stay," said Johnstone.
Both fans were quick to dismiss the idea that Chelsea supporters might want their team to lose to stop Benitez getting the job long-term.
Johnstone said: "It's a Catch 22 situation - people do want him to fail so he doesn't remain in the position - but they want to walk into work on a Monday morning with their head held high after a good Chelsea result. For the majority of supporters that's what it's all about."

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Easy Benitez

New Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez believes working for Roman Abramovich will be "easier" than operating under George Gillett and Tom Hicks at Liverpool.

The Spaniard was due to meet Abramovich for the first time on Thursday evening after replacing Roberto Di Matteo.

Benitez is the Russian's ninth manager at Stamford Bridge but, despite not yet speaking to him, he insists the job will be less stressful than working for American duo Gillett and Hicks during his spell in charge at Anfield.

He said: "If you have two bosses who aren't talking to each other, it's difficult.

"You want a striker and one of them says: 'I don't know...' This will be easier.

"The main thing is that I have spoken to Michael Emanalo, the technical director, and he's my link. I like to speak about football with him. That's my priority."

Benitez believes he can bring the best out of misfiring striker Fernando Torres and spoke with his fellow Spaniard after taking his first training session on Thursday.

"He is a top-class player and, with his attitude, he will do it," he said. "I know how good he can be, as I know how good David Luiz or Ramires can be.

"He's one of the important players in this team, and I'll try and improve him, like I will the other players."

Benitez has added former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder Boudewijn Zenden to his coaching staff, along with Xavi Valero and Paco di Miguel.

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City to keep pace with United

Manchester City host Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Saturday in what shapes as a danger game for Roberto Mancini’s side. City are two points behind leaders Manchester United on the league table and a win this week would see them keep pace with the Red Devils. But City, who play an important Champions League match against Real Madrid next week and go up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on November 25, must be careful not to overlook their opponents this weekend. Villa sit 17th and are three points clear of the relegation zone after losing to Manchester United 3-2 last Saturday at Villa Park. Paul Lambert’s side lost their last match against Mancini’s side in the Premier League 1-0 on February 2 but won their most recent meeting in September, in the third round of the League Cup, 4-2 in extra time. Striker Andreas Weimann netted two goals in his side’s loss to Manchester United and told reporters this week Villa has no reason to fear the reigning Premier League Champions. City remain undefeated in the Premier League this season after beating Tottenham 2-1 last Sunday at Etihad Stadium. Right-back Maicon and David Silva returned from injury to help Mancini’s side to victory over Spurs and Joleon Lescott should be available for this week’s game to further boost City’s stocks after a back injury.

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Late Dzeko strike sinks Spurs

Edin Dzeko lived up to his super-sub billing by firing Manchester City to a 2-1 victory against Tottenham.

Edin Dzeko lived up to his super-sub billing by firing Manchester City to a 2-1 victory against Tottenham.
Dzeko struck three minutes from time to complete a defiant second-half comeback from the unbeaten Blues, who closed the gap on Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United to two points.
It was the Bosnian's seventh goal of the season, six of which have come from the bench, after Sergio Aguero had cancelled out Steven Caulker's first-half header.
It also extended City's unbeaten home Premier League record to an incredible 35, and their present unbeaten league run to 16, adding weight to manager Roberto Mancini's pre-match dismissal of any sense of crisis at the Etihad Stadium.

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Wenger Blame Team

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accepted his side had only themselves to blame after throwing away a two-goal lead for the second time in a week as Fulham battled back to earn a 3-3 draw at the Emirates Stadium.Though early goals from Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski put the Gunners in control, Fulham rallied before half-time through Dimitar Berbatov and Alex Kacaniklic's strikes. Indeed Giroud had to cancel out a Berbatov penalty before the Gunners, in added time, were denied a winner by Mark Schwarzer's penalty save from Mikel Arteta.

"It was frustrating because we had the opportunities to win,” said Wenger. “We were caught in a bit too comfortable of a position because we did the most difficult thing – we scored two goals to go 2-0 up. At that moment we lacked urgency defensively. "In the second half we gave absolutely everything and I have to give credit to the players, in the last three games what they have done physically is amazing. "Even at 3-2 down we didn't give up and continued to go forward and we had the chances to win the game." Fulham manager Martin Jol reflected on "so many mixed feelings" about the final result of a dramatic encounter. "We played some fantastic stuff," he said. "Before the game we said we would try to dominate them, which is hard here, but we managed that." "I can't remember being 2-0 down - especially here - then being 3-2 ahead and we could have scored two or three goals after that. "I really thought this could be the first time ever to beat them away, but in the end it was not to be. "However, if you concede a penalty in the last 20 seconds and then still do not lose, maybe we should be pleased in hindsight."

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Stalemate at the Bridge

An unconvincing Liverpool made Chelsea pay for their profligacy by coming from behind to steal a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The home side's pain at letting two points slip was augmented by a serious injury to Chelsea goalscorer John Terry, who faces an uncertain future after being stretchered off in the 40th minute with suspected knee ligament damage.

Terry's 20th-minute header and a series of dangerous counter-attacks had given Chelsea hope they could climb to within a point of English Premier League leaders Manchester United.

But Roberto Di Matteo's team failed to finish off their visitors and Luis Suarez made them pay 17 minutes from the end with his eighth league goal of the season.

It leaves Chelsea third on the table, three points behind United, while Liverpool remain in a distant 13th.

To add to the home side's agony, Terry left the pitch with his head in his hands and a look of rare vulnerability on his face after receiving five minutes of treatment in the wake of his accidental collision with Suarez.

Brazilian star Oscar came close to giving Chelsea a sixth-minute lead after Joe Allen lost possession but the playmaker lifted his shot over the bar.

Just when Brendon Rodgers' 3-5-2 formation appeared to be bearing fruit, with his team dominating possession, an error gifted Chelsea the opening goal midway through the opening half.

Juan Mata curled in a corner from the right and Liverpool's zonal system failed to track the run of Terry, who bulleted a free header into the top corner for his 50th Chelsea goal in his 558th appearance.

It was one of Terry's last acts of the game with the captain stretchered off in severe pain after Suarez landed on his knee.

Despite Liverpool having 64 percent of the first-half possession, Chelsea were far more dangerous and Mata's brilliant run shortly before the whistle ended with a wild finish rather than the second goal.

It was the same theme after the break, with Petr Cech little more than a spectator as all the action hummed around the opposing goalmouth.

Chelsea should have been out of sight by the time Liverpool made them pay for their profligacy with a smartly worked corner in the 73rd minute.

Substitute Suso curled the ball in to the near post, Jamie Carragher met it with a neat flick-on and an unchallenged Suarez applied the headed finish.

The visitors finished strongly and Suarez could have gone on to win the game for Liverpool had last man Cech not timed his charge perfectly late on.

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