mancityblues.com

When trying to forecast results involving Manchester City, followers of the Citizens have just cause to be wary. This game is a prime example - Gareth Southgate's side is languishing second-bottom in the league, have not added to their squad in the transfer window and City owe Middlesbrough some payback for that 8-1 thrashing we suffered last season. Yet can any City supporter truly say that they are confident of getting a victory on Saturday? As usual I'll try to remain optimistic and hope that the Stoke defeat has galvanised Hughes' team, and will spur City on to a comfortable win.

I didn't see the game against Stoke, so my observations of City's performance are second-hand. I gather that Micah Richards strolled through the tie, SWP looked tired, the usually excellent Zabaleta and Ireland were below par and in general City could not break Stoke down despite having 70% of the possession. So does Hughes shake things up again, or will he stick with the same side in the hope that continuity brings results? Many City fans are calling for the inclusion of Elano after he performed reasonably well against (a tiring) Stoke, and with Boro likely to "park the bus", the Brazilian may get his chance. Can he deliver?

I'd play this line-up -

Given (if fit)

Zabaleta Kompany Onuoha Bridge

De Jong Ireland

Elano

Bellamy Robinho

Caceido

Time to drop Micah I think. SWP needs to recharge his batteries, perhaps, and Caceido should be given a chance (now that Santa Cruz is remaining at Rovers), with Bellamy and Robinho dropping off and patrolling the wide areas.

BLOOVIC