City cast adrift by Doncaster

BEING a Blue is tough, after the head scratching of the Bolton game, it was the armchair beating of defeat to Doncaster Rovers in the Carling Cup.

Pearce had highlighted this competition as one to win, unfortunately the players were not listening as a pedestrian performance rolled on through extra time to a 3 – 0 defeat in a penalty shoot-out.

City gave a debut to winger Hussein and a start to Stephen Ireland, both players looked tricky and willing, but with Reyna playing the holding role and Sun on the right we missed Joey Barton.

He failed a fitness test before the game and the midfielders failed to push beyond the front two and get in behind the Doncaster defence.

So despite having plenty of possession we didn’t really hurt Rovers and although their keeper pulled off a couple of sharp saves, we were set-up for a fall.

And so it came. After trading penalties in extra time the match went to the lottery that is penalties and true to form City’s first by Vassell slammed against the cross bar.

From there it got worse as Sibierski, who I have lost patience with, made a hero of the substitute goalkeeper by hitting the ball directly at him.

Before Dunny stepped up to see his shot, hit at a nice height for the keeper, be tipped on to the post and send City tumbling out of the cup at the second round.

Doncaster 1-1 Man City (aft Doncaster win 3-0 on penalties.)