VMC Preview: The Blues v The Black Cats

Alarm Bells Ring - Are you listening? The dreadful no show at Spurs has hit City fans hard as the hacks enjoy an early Christmas City flogging. Sunderland next. Eastlands expects

Mark Hughes:

'We're back at home after two difficult fixtures away and we've got to get back to the level we produced against Chelsea. We're more than capable of doing that. We've just come through a period in which we`ve beaten Arsenal and Chelsea, and also shown great spirit and courage in difficult circumstances against Bolton to come back three times. Whether that had a negative impact on what we were able to produce at Tottenham, who knows? We've picked the bones out, but sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say: 'We weren't good enough on the night.'

Steve Bruce:

'Myself and Mark played for an unbelievable club that has an unbelievable mentality. But..with myself and Mark at the start of it, it took years to win trophies. Will he be given time...? who knows with football these days?

'I still believe we are making decent progress. It is going to take time. But there are decent signs there. We are not getting beaten badly. It is the odd goal here and there.'

Gareth Barry:

'There was a lot of hurt players in there and the lads were really at each other's throats. It's not just the defeat, it's the way we've lost - we've lost a lot of pride. A few words were said in the dressing room and we want to put things right.'

Nedum Onuoha:

'We won't let our heads drop after Wednesday. With the character and the winners that we've got in the team, I don't think we're going to lose a game and crumble. We have to make sure we do the little things that make a big difference. Tottenham is already behind us, we can't change that result - we just have to be positive for the games to come.'

Phil Bardsley:

'We believe in ourselves and I think we can get something. I was talking to one of the City players a little while back, and he was saying it felt like there were a lot of foreign players there now. They are throwing a lot of money around and the owners want to win things at any cost.

'At the same time you have to have a good atmosphere in the dressing room if you are going to be successful. That is something for them to sort out maybe. We just have to concentrate on us tomorrow because we have been on a disappointing run.'

City are looking tight for options going into the busy Christmas phase and have shipped some nasty injuries which will extend into January's crucial fixtures.

Johnson is of course out for the season. Bridge and Lescott are out for 5-6 weeks and SWP is rated doubtful.

Nigel De Jong serves a one match ban for accumulated bookings but Craig Bellamy returns to lead the charge, if anything warranting the Captain's armband of late.

Emmanuel Adebayor has been woeful at times and generally dreary since returning from suspension earlier in the season. He drifts aimlessly from wing to wing, drops far too deep and gave Spurs' centre backs their easiest game of the season on Wednesday.

The big man is coming in for increasing stick and if anything merits dropping to the bench. City need a big target man to give them options and right now there is little to choose between Ade and Santa Cruz for impact. But will Sparky be prepared to start with the Paraguayan and risk upsetting an alledged ego that our Gooner visitors have warned us about?

Gordon and Ferdinand are out for The Black Cats and Zenden and Turner are both doubtful.

Cana is suspended for the trip to Manchester.

Cattermole is likely to make his first start in two months following a ligament injury. Catts first league goal came for Middlesbrough in a win at City and how the young tough tackling midfielder would love to get The Mackems going again. After his quotes this week, Gareth Barry had better be on his game.

City's 3-0 defeat at Tottenham was only the second time in 16 league games that The Blues have failed to score.

Sunderland have lost all of their last four league games.

City have shipped 13 goals in the last six games.

City have won the last 3 games with Sunderland at Eastlands and all of the last 8 league games against them.

VMC Link: Once A Blue Meets Vital Sunderland

VMC Forum Link: MATCHDAY THREAD: Man City v Sunderland - Saturday Dec 19 - KO 3PM UK Time

A Marriner, West Midlands. Yellow card mentalist Marriner takes charge of his first City game of the season and his third with the Mackems. He oversaw The Cats one away win of the season at Bolton. He's handled the big guns a few times this season and has a far from card shy reputation. Current season record: Games:14, Yellow Cards:54, Red Cards:5

Nothing other than a convincing City win is going to appease the growing unrest that is building across Planet Blue. Anything less and the sports hacks who have been forced to hold back until now upon savaging Mark Hughes due to a long 'drawn out' unbeaten run will up their campaign to see the City boss sacked. No two ways about it, the stakes are higher now and The Blues must deliver consistent wins. But to do that, Sparky has to be prepared to change things boldly when it ain't going right. He is overly cautious far too often, but at the end of the day, this Christmas period will be all about who of his players wants it the most. We'll know for sure who is on board for the long haul by Saturday night. I demand a response and I sense we'll get it, but for that to happen, the majority of City's players must change their attitudes. Defeat would see all hell break loose. Johnny On The Spot: CITY 3 Sunderland 0

H: Stoke, Sat 26 Dec 15h00 GMT
A: Wolves, Mon 28 Dec 19h45 GMT
A: Middlesbrough, FAC3 Sat 2 Jan 15h00 GMT
H: the rags, LCSF, Wed 6 Jan 19h45 GMT

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