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Blackburn V Man City - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Pellegrini: Cup important for team

Manuel Pellegrini is determined to keep Manchester City firing on all fronts, even though he will make changes for Blackburn this weekend.


City begin their fourth trophy challenge of the season as they travel to the Skybet Championship side in the third round of the FA Cup.


They are well placed in all the others, being second in the Barclays Premier League, through to the last 16 of the Champions League and into the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.


Pellegrini wants to add the FA Cup to his list of targets but after four games in 12 days over Christmas, and a League Cup date with West Ham next Wednesday, he must utilise his squad.


He said: "We are going to make changes because we are playing too often in the last (few) weeks.


"We are going to try to have a good squad and to win the first game in our FA Cup (campaign) because for our team it is an important cup.


"I said from the beginning of the season if we are going to play in every competition we must play with exactly the same importance.


"The FA Cup is a very traditional competition here in England and in every country of Europe the cup is always an important competition.


"I just told the players it an important test for us, not only for the team but for individual performances.


"Some players will have the chance to play now in the FA Cup.


"As I said with the Capital One, both cups finish at Wembley and to finish at Wembley with a final is important for every team."


City boast a powerful squad and multiple changes for different competitions have barely affected their momentum in recent weeks.


Pellegrini made eight changes for last month's League Cup quarter-final at Championship high-flyers Leicester but a team containing Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Jesus Navas, David Silva and Edin Dzeko came through 3-1.


Pellegrini believes a similar test could await his side at Ewood Park.


He said: "All the teams playing at home are very difficult teams.


"Maybe Blackburn are not in the best moment in the Championship but, playing at home and playing against us, they will be very motivated and try to win.


"Maybe (it will be) a similar game to that we played against Leicester - a difficult game.


"If we think, 'We are in Premier League and they are in Championship - we are going to win', it is an important mistake.


"We must play with concentration, with intensity and with the tempo we need if we want to win."


Pellegrini is pleased with where his side stand at the midpoint of the season, but knows there are more important tests to come.


He said: "I am very happy because in all the competitions we are playing, we are in a good moment.


"It was a good first half of the season to prepare for what we must win, but we must win important things in the second (half) to be a successful season."


With Martin Demichelis currently injured, City have little other cover at centre-back for first-choice pair Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic, who have both had injury problems this season.


When asked further if Joleon Lescott could be loaned out, Pellegrini said: "At this moment, we are not considering. We will see in the future, during the transfer window, what will happen."


Midfielder Jack Rodwell will miss the Blackburn game with a hamstring injury.


Blackburn boss Gary Bowyer admits everyone at the club is looking forward to welcoming City to Ewood Park.


The 42-year-old has called upon players and supporters alike to enjoy the occasion but is under no illusions about Rovers' chances of progressing.


He said: "You can look at it two ways, you can meet the challenge head on or you can sit back and worry about this player and that player.


"We've decided to go the other way and enjoy it and measure where we are against them, and why not.


"We're just going to approach the game in the right manner and pay the respect to Manchester City but, at the same time, ask our players to express themselves. No one is expecting us to win, so it's a chance for us to go and enjoy ourselves.


"We're fully aware of the fact that for us to beat Manchester City we're going to need a hell of a lot of luck, we're going to need our players to be on top of their game and we might need Manchester City to have a really bad off-day because they've got some talent.


"If they rest some of the stars they've got then they're replacing them with other world-class stars.


"The opportunity to come and watch world stars - and that's what we're talking about - is very rare for the Blackburn public now because of the fact that we're not in the Premier League.


"We're hoping they'll come out in their thousands and make it a really good atmosphere and a really good day."


Bowyer is boosted by the availability of Tom Cairney and Rudy Gestede after both players made their loan moves permanent on Friday.





Bowyer will check on midfielder David Dunn, who has missed his side's last three matches with a hamstring problem. Jason Lowe returns from suspension and Corry Evans (ankle) remains doubtful.

St Johnstone V Dundee Utd - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


United can handle rough stuff

John Rankin has told Dundee United's Scottish Premiership rivals that heavy-handed tactics will not work against their talented teenagers.


The Arabs saw a six-match winning streak ended by a painful 4-1 Boxing Day defeat to St Mirren in Paisley.


Saints skipper Jim Goodwin had to be substituted by Buddies boss Danny Lennon before he was sent off after clattering into a string of young United players, while Conor Newton and Marc McAusland were also guilty of heavy challenges that saw them booked.


While St Mirren finished the game with a full compliment, United saw Keith Watson sent off for a crude lunge on Sean Kelly just seconds before Jason Naismith grabbed the home side's crucial third goal.


But Rankin insists it was not St Mirren's tough tackling that kept the likes of Ryan Gauld, Andrew Robertson and Stuart Armstrong quiet.


Speaking ahead of Sunday's league trip to St Johnstone, the midfielder said: "Can they young lads handle the rough stuff? Well they are used to it Monday to Friday, so I don't see any reason why they can't stand up to it in a match.


"I don't think the St Mirren defeat was caused by their physical approach. Okay they had the impetus in the first half after going in front, but we were saying to each other that a quick goal at the start of the second and we would be back in it.


"But their keeper has had some game and then the sending off for Keith and the third St Mirren goal have swung it away from us.


"We haven't been sitting tearing our hair out after that game though. We were on a good run but now it's come to an end. Now we will just move on to the St Johnstone match."


St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright did not bat an eye when Sunday's opponents Dundee United came crashing down to earth on Boxing Day with a 4-1 defeat by St Mirren in Paisley.


While Saints were losing narrowly 1-0 at home to leaders Celtic, the free-scoring Taysiders were tasting defeat for the first time in eight games in a more emphatic way.


However, asked if the result at St Mirren Park had been a surprise, the Northern Irishman said: "No. Anything can happen in this league.


"There is not a lot between the teams and I think most managers will agree with me.


"Dundee United have been good but there have been a lot of good teams this season and St Mirren scored four against us earlier this season (to win 4-3).


"Quite often it is the team who gets the first goal who go on to win the game although I know Dundee United had a player sent off."


The McDiarmid Park manager does not believe United's defeat will give his side a boost as they try to remain in the top half of the table.


"We have to go out and play," he said. "We have to look after ourselves.


"If we play to our capabilities then we can beat any team in the league and that is what we will try to do on Sunday.


"It is a Tayside derby, there will be a big crowd there and we want to get back to winning games because teams are closing in on us for a top-six place."


Wright insists his players did enough in their defeat to the Hoops to be able to take confidence into the United match.


"Celtic are the best team in the country but aside from the goal, I thought we defended well and we got better as the second half went on," he said.


"We kept the ball better and turned them which pleased me, although I was disappointed by the result.


"So there are positives we can take and it is good that we have a game a few days later.


"The beauty of the Christmas period is that there is a lot of football played and so you don't have time to reflect on the previous game."

Aston Villa V Swansea - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Lambert: We're a million miles off

Paul Lambert admitted Aston Villa are "a million miles away" from where he wants the club to be.


Lambert's side head into Saturday's clash with Swansea looking to halt a run of four successive defeats that has seen them slide to within three points of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.


Home form has been the biggest problem, with Villa picking up only seven points and scoring just six goals, the worst record in the top four divisions.


They have found the net in only one of their last six home matches and the fans made their feelings clear as Villa slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.


Lambert conceded expectations are not making life easier, saying: "The lads are edgy on certain things but we have to work on that.


"You can't turn round and be critical of the crowd, that's for sure. It's too big a club.


"It's probably not helping in terms of us trying to play our game at certain times but they pay their money and they're entitled to voice their opinion.


"Football is about giving people something to cheer. We're doing everything we can to keep building what we want to try and do. I'm a million miles short of what I want to do with the club.


"Personally I know what it's like because I've played with big clubs as a footballer. I was never exempt from criticism.


"I remember my first few games at Celtic, I lost them. People were saying go back to Dortmund, 60,000 or whatever it was. Until I bedded myself in and got a grip of it, then it went reasonably okay.


"I know criticism. For the team, when they're young, they need that support through thick and thin.


"Some people talk about bravery of going in for a tackle that's 10 feet high and blood, guts and thunder. Bravery's taking the ball in front of 40,000 or 50,000 in an area where people will just shy away from it.


"As long as they never do that - that's the one thing I can't accept, trying to hide. As long as they keep trying to do the right things, then I'll never criticise them.


"I don't want to be sitting like this every time. It's a challenge I'm not going to wilt under. I've never wilted. You fight it, you don't run away from it."


Michael Laudrup's Swansea sit a point above Villa and are also not in good form having gone five matches without a victory.


"Even if you don't win in one, there's pressure," said Lambert. "Football now, you get one or two games. If you've not won two games, there's a crisis, it's getting shorter and shorter.


"Swansea are on that same kind of run, I'm pretty sure if you asked Michael he'd say the exact same thing. It's a big game for both teams."


Midfielder Ashley Westwood returns from suspension but Lambert is limited in his options, with top scorer Christian Benteke and defender Ron Vlaar still injured.


Meanwhile, captain Ashley Williams has called on Swansea to turn the momentum in their favour before the year's end when they visit Villa.


A 1-0 loss at Chelsea on Boxing Day followed a defeat to Everton and means Swansea have one win in six Barclays Premier League matches and 10 points from the last 10 games.


The 11th-placed Swans are just four points better off than 18th-placed Fulham, who occupy the final place in the relegation zone, entering their second match in 48 hours against a Villa side beaten at home by Crystal Palace on Thursday. Villa, who are one point behind Swansea in 13th, have lost their last four games.


"We have lost the last two, so it's going to be a massive game for both teams," defender Williams said on swanseacity.net.


"It's very important. Every game is in this league.


"They lost to Palace at home on Boxing Day, and they will be desperate to make up for that particularly as they are at home again.


"Villa Park is a very tough place to play but we know we are capable of winning there and bouncing back from these back-to-back defeats."


Swansea boss Michael Laudrup will make changes for the trip.


Striker Michu, midfielder Nathan Dyer (both ankle) and goalkeeper Michel Vorm (knee) missed the Boxing Day loss at Chelsea, along with defender Garry Monk (knee).


Leon Britton returned from a broken toe and could continue.

St Mirren V Dundee Utd - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


McAusland hoping for recall

St Mirren defender Marc McAusland paid the price for a dire showing at Pittodrie when he surrendered his place - now he hopes to win it back after his team-mates were humbled by Motherwell.


The big centre-half was dropped by boss Danny Lennon for Saturday's Fir Park fixture after his blunder gifted Scott Vernon the opener in last week's 2-0 defeat to Aberdeen.


He was responsible for another four opportunities the Dons should have done better with and was punished as Lee Mair took his place against Well.


But that line-up change failed to produce the result Lennon was looking for, with the Paisley men culpable for their own downfall in a 3-0 loss to Stuart McCall's side.


Now McAusland hopes that defeat may hand him a reprieve against Dundee United on Boxing Day.


"It's down to the manager at the end of the day," said the 25-year-old. "But if I'm performing well in training the gaffer will see that and hopefully it will be enough to get me back in.


"I had a poor game up at Aberdeen and that is why I was not picked for Motherwell. But the performance and the result there leaves a window for me to get back in.


"For a while when we were short on cover you knew you would be playing regardless of your performance but now we have great competition for places.


"They boys are all training well and that makes it harder to stay in the team. If you're not performing then you'll be dropped and that's what happened to me last week."


It took Saints eight games to finally register their first Scottish Premiership victory of the new campaign as they beat Hearts at Tynecastle at the start of October.


That Gorgie win teed up a run of nine games with just one league defeat - a 4-0 thrashing by United.


But having shipped five goals without reply against the Dons and Motherwell, McAusland says St Mirren can not afford to lose for a second time to Jackie McNamara's men if they want to keep their top six ambitions on track.


He said: "We had a challenging start to the season when we didn't pick up many points. But then we went on a wee run and moved up the table.


"But we've lost these last two games and we do not want to get dragged back down towards the bottom of the league again. Hopefully come Thursday we can turn it around."


However, McAusland admits he would rather the Buddies were not facing the red-hot Tannadice side next after watching United blast 22 goals while stretching their winning streak to six games,.


"United are a side you want to avoid right now," he admitted. "They are on form and scoring a lot of goals. They are hard to break down and hard to beat.


"But if we can apply ourselves and put a performance on we can definitely pick up points at home."


United's resurgence has been thanks largely to the efforts of youngsters like Ryan Gauld, Stuart Armstrong and Andrew Robertson.


Saturday's 1-0 win over Ross County saw them move into second place but McAusland does not believe they can rein in leaders Celtic - who top the table with a 10 point lead - just yet.


"It's brilliant for Dundee United's youth development system that these guys are coming through," he said. "They must be really proud of the lads they are bringing through.


"All credit to them, they deserve to be where they are in the table.


"They are all still young boys and if in seasons to come they can hold on to a few of them, they can definitely make a challenge to Celtic.


"Obviously money-wise, Celtic are a lot stronger but if Dundee United can keep going, then the boys are talented enough that I don't see many people stopping them.


"For me, Celtic will win the league this year but United and Aberdeen are the sides the rest of us have to look at catching."


Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara believes his on-form side face as tough a Boxing Day fixture as they could get when they travel to St Mirren.


The Tangerines are riding high in the Scottish Premiership as they sit second following last weekend's narrow 1-0 victory over Ross County at Tannadice.


Danny Lennon's eighth-placed Buddies are their opponents on Thursday but while United are in a rich vein of form with six straight wins to their credit, McNamara is convinced their trip to Paisley promises to be a demanding 90 minutes.


McNamara said: "We will have every respect for St Mirren. They like to get the ball down and play like ourselves so it should be open in that respect.


"We're on a good run of form right now but we know what St Mirren are capable of on their day.


"We'll need to be wary of them and we will be because our aim is to keep this run going.


"There are no easy games in this division and that will definitely be the case when we go through there on Wednesday."


United have been attracting big crowds of late, with over 8,000 witnessing their win against County, so McNamara hopes they travel to Paisley in numbers to roar their side on to another victory.


He said: "We had a great attendance for the County game.


"They can be like an extra man by creating the sort of atmosphere the players respond to on the pitch.


"We're hoping to have a decent-size following through for the St Mirren game because it can make all the difference.


"They're liking what they're seeing from the lads so long may that continue."


United face a hectic festive period with games against St Johnstone and Aberdeen coming hard on the heels of Thursday's clash.


And McNamara said: "The players are relishing it.


"The games are coming thick and fast but we'll just focus on one at a time and see where that takes us.


"St Mirren will be tough to start with but we should be confident going into it given our recent results."


Winger Gary Mackay-Steven has a knock which forced him to miss training on Tuesday but United hope both he and full-back Keith Watson will be fit in time to face the Buddies.

Portsmouth V Dag & Red - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Double doubt for Pompey

Andy Barcham and Shaun Cooper are injury doubts for Portsmouth's Boxing Day clash with Dagenham.


Winger Barcham and full-back Cooper both had to be substituted after sustaining knocks during Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Bristol Rovers.


Bondz N'Gala is suspended after collecting a fifth booking and fellow defender Danny East remains doubtful with the neck injury he suffered three weeks ago.


Striker Tom Craddock is still out with a knee problem and on-loan left-back Dan Potts has gone back to West Ham.


Dagenham are not expected to have any new injury or suspension concerns for the trip.


Defender Scott Doe and winger Medy Elito returned from a ban and thigh problem respectively for Saturday's disappointing 1-0 home defeat to struggling Torquay.


Luke Wilkinson and Josh Scott both dropped to the bench and they will be pressing for recalls at Fratton Park alongside the likes of Chris Dickson and Anthony Edgar should boss Wayne Burnett opt to make any changes.


Matt Saunders (ankle) and Billy Bingham (knee) both continue to miss out.