“Win” is the only word Roberto Mancini requires when delivering his
team-talk ahead of Leeds United’s visit. To find the last time any of
his players enjoyed one of these in Manchester City colours you have to
flick back three weeks to the previous round of this competition, on 26
January, when Stoke City were knocked out. Since then some patchy
displays – plus last weekend’s 3-1 capitulation at Southampton – have
allowed Manchester United to romp to a 12-point lead in the league and
left the FA Cup as City’s best hope of a trophy. For the sake of his own
long-term future, Mancini dare not lose this one.
Manchester City
• Manchester City, the 2011 winners, have won seven of their last eight FA Cup outings; keeping clean sheets in all seven.
• The five times winners and four times runners-up have only lost one of their last 11 FA Cup matches; that being the 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United in last season’s third round.
• City have not lost in the FA Cup to a Championship club under Roberto Mancini. Mark Hughes was at the helm when Nottingham Forest defeated them 3-0 in the third round in January 2009, in front of the home supporters.
Leeds United
• If Leeds are to qualify for the quarter-finals for the second time in 15 seasons and first since 2003, they will need to claim back-to-back Premier League scalps, having eliminated Tottenham in the fourth round.
• Top-flight clubs have ended the interest of the 1972 winners and three times losing finalists, in each of the last three seasons.
• The Whites’ only victory on the road in two and a half months, was against Birmingham in the FA Cup third round replay, on 15 January.
Manchester City
• Manchester City, the 2011 winners, have won seven of their last eight FA Cup outings; keeping clean sheets in all seven.
• The five times winners and four times runners-up have only lost one of their last 11 FA Cup matches; that being the 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United in last season’s third round.
• City have not lost in the FA Cup to a Championship club under Roberto Mancini. Mark Hughes was at the helm when Nottingham Forest defeated them 3-0 in the third round in January 2009, in front of the home supporters.
Leeds United
• If Leeds are to qualify for the quarter-finals for the second time in 15 seasons and first since 2003, they will need to claim back-to-back Premier League scalps, having eliminated Tottenham in the fourth round.
• Top-flight clubs have ended the interest of the 1972 winners and three times losing finalists, in each of the last three seasons.
• The Whites’ only victory on the road in two and a half months, was against Birmingham in the FA Cup third round replay, on 15 January.
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