Writer: Johnny Baguette 
Date:Sunday January 31 2010
Time: 6:10PM
Under performing, lacklustre City did enough to beat an uncompromising Portsmouth this afternoon. Here's how the key characters saw it...
Roberto Mancini:
Mancio was not impressed by City's bobbins efforts.
'I thought that today was a difficult game and I am happy for the win. I am also happy for a clean sheet, which was important, but I didn't like the game. But the most important thing was to win.'
'It is a good position we are in but it is not important to be there now but to be there at the end of the season.'
Avram Grant:
The Pompey boss rued his sides finishing.
'It was a strange game because I think we were the better team. We created two big chances when it was 0-0. When they scored in my opinion their first goal was offside and their second goal was from a foul.
'We had a good performance but when you play well and create three or four chances you have to take them.'
And of the Fratton Park nightmare:
'As long as I am here I will do my best but my future is not the issue. The issue is the club, the team and the fans.'
CITY INJURY UPDATE
In injury news, the City gaffer confirmed that battling Pablo Zabaleta will be fine after the smashed nose forearm he received off Boateng but that in form Vincent Kompany has a bad groin injury and will be out of action until further notice.
Kolo Toure:
The City skipper made some crucial interventions during his excellent return to Eastlands.
'It was an important win for us. If we want to be in the top four then we know that we need to win these kind of games. This League is really tough - it doesn't matter who you play, you have to raise your game and try your hardest to win. That's what we had to do against Portsmouth.
'We don't watch how the others are doing, we just focus on what we are doing. As long as we are winning games we keep the pressure on, and at the end we'll be in top four. We've got Hull next week and then Bolton. They are really important games for us. We need to take the points against the teams who are in the lower part of the table.'
VMC City Video Link: Mancio Pitchside Post Match View
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