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City need to improve

City need to improve


It's fair to say that if Manchester City are going to pick up their first major piece of silverware since 1976, then they are going to need to be much more clinical next week at Wembley than they were at Goodison at the weekend. Roberto Mancini's men failed to capitalise on a host a chances against Everton, allowing the hosts to grab a somewhat surprising 2-1 victory after withstanding the City storm.

Next week's FA Cup finalists dominated the first-half at Goodison Park, with Yaya Toure giving the visitors the lead with his goal just before the half-hour mark. Their dominance couldn't force a second before the half-time interval, with the lively David Silva causing the Everton defence plenty of problems. Former City defender Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka managed to get themselves in the way of most of City's chances, and when they were breached Tim Howard was in inspiring form between the sticks.



The second-half was a different story however, with Everton creating the main chances and controlling the majority of possession. The home fans were finally rewarded just after the hour when Distan headed home from a Mikel Arteta free-kick. While questions will be asked about whether or not Joe Hart could have done more to prevent the goal but it was what Everton deserved. Seven minutes later and the game was flipped on its head when Leon Osman climbed above the City defence to glance home an arrow header.



Everton hung on and claimed the win, which still leaves City in the driving seat for fourth place but Mancini will be concerned about his team's failure to convert their numerous chances. The Italian was at a loss to explain his side's defeat after the match.



"It was impossible to lose this game today after the first half and all the chances that we had. It's not impossible to score a goal and it's important we score the goal. We had too many chances to score," he said.



City's next season will soon be the focus, but they will have to concentrate on the FA Cup for the time being.



Edin Dzeko was given the lone striker role, with Carlos Tevez still injured and Mario Balotelli on the bench. The Bosnian front-man still looks some way short of being Premier League class and Mancini will be desperate to have 22-goal Tevez available against Stoke.