SATURDAY 1st MARCH 2008, 5.15pm

Manchester City have endured something of a lean time since our last meeting at the JJB Stadium at the start of December but manager Sven Goran Eriksson was buoyed recently after an historic 2-1 derby win over Manchester United at Old Trafford three weeks ago, the first time that the Sky Blues have completed the double against their city rivals for over thirty years.

City have an excellent home at Eastlands and until recently remained unbeaten at home.  That run came to an end at the beginning of the month when league leaders Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners and a second home defeat of the season arrived on Monday night when City lost 2-0 to high-flying Everton.

Latics have yet to lose to City since promotion to the Barclays Premier League nearly three years ago.  December's clash at the JJB Stadium ended 1-1 with Paul Scharner grabbing the equaliser. Wigan have had the edge at the City of Manchester Stadium in the last two seasons, winning by a 1-0 margin on both occasions.

Having made several signings in a blitz of transfer activity last summer, Eriksson decided against delving into the transfer market to the same extent in January, insisting it was hard to persuade clubs to sell at the mid-point of the season.

Former Reggina striker Rolando Bianchi was a notable departure, moving back to Italy to join Lazio on loan after failing to settle in England.  Georgios Samaras was another to depart during the January window, the Greek striker joining Celtic on loan until the end of the season.

In the wake of Bianchi and Samaras departing, City moved to bolster their attacking options by signing Benjani Mwaruwari from Portsmouth.  The Zimbabwean joined for a fee of £3.8million at the end of January and made an instant impact as his headed goal gave City a 2-0 lead shortly before half-time in the Manchester derby.

Eriksson has plenty of depth in the goalkeeping department.  Andreas Isaksson and Kasper Schmeichel have featured this season but England U21 star Joe Hart has established himself in recent months and his performances have caught the eye of Fabio Capello.

In defence, Irish international Richard Dunne has been mightily impressive this term.  Alongside him is young prospect Nedum Onuoha, who has already made over 50 first team appearances.  Micah Richards is another to progress to the first team from City's Academy, but the England international has recently undergone a knee operation and will be absent from the first team picture for several weeks. Versatile Croatian defender Vedran Corluka signed from Dinamo Zagreb last summer - the 21-year-old is equally comfortable in central defence or at full-back.

Left-back Michael Ball has produced some solid performances since arriving from Feyenoord a year ago.  Formerly with Everton and Rangers, Ball has suffered from injury problems in the past but is now restored to full fitness.  The 28-year-old has been competing for a starting berth with Spaniard Javier Garrido, another player who signed for the club last summer after moving from Real Sociedad.

In midfield City are particularly strong.  Dietmar Hamann has enjoyed a renaissance of late and his recent performances have been rewarded with a new contract.  Brazilian Elano caught the eye earlier in the season with some spectacular strikes and he is currently top scorer with 7 goals.  Bulgarian international Martin Petrov has also been a major influence for the Blues this term, although his dismissal on Monday night means that he misses out tomorrow.

Gelson Fernandes is a Brazilian-born Swiss international who left FC Sion to join the Eriksson revolution last summer, and alongside him is winger Stephen Ireland.  The Republic of Ireland international is renowned for his creativity and has now made over 70 league appearances for his club.

Eriksson has refined his striking options by bringing in three new faces prior to the closure of the last transfer window.  In addition to Benjani, Mexican forward Nery Castillo, formerly with Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk, has joined on loan until the end of the season.  Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caceido was bought from Swiss club FC Basel for a fee of £5.2million and is an international team-mate of Antonio Valencia.

Completing Eriksson's quartet of strikers is England international Darius Vassell, who has forced his way back into the reckoning after recapturing the form that led to his inclusion in England's squads for the 2002 World Cup and the 2004 European Championships.

Latics are currently 14th and a win tomorrow could see us leapfrog above Newcastle United if they fail to beat Blackburn Rovers at home this Saturday.

Everton v Man City (0-2): Hart, Onuoha, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Vassell (Castillo 75), Gelson, Hamann (Elano 46), Ireland (Caicedo 68), Petrov, Mwaruwari.

Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Corluka.

Sent Off: Petrov (90).

SUSPENSIONS: Petrov starts a three match ban.

INJURIES: Micah Richards has just had a knee operation.

Referee: Steve Bennett (From Kent) Season Statistics
Season	Matches	Yellow Cards	Red Cards
2007/2008	37	104	8
2006/2007	45	151	14
2005/2006	41	141	12

Last 10 League Results
Date	Team	Result	Score	Scorers
15 Dec	Bolton (H)	W	4-2	Bianchi OG Vassell Etuhu
22 Dec	Aston Villa (A)	D	1-1	Bianchi
27 Dec	Blackburn (H)	D	2-2	Vassell OG
30 Dec	Liverpool (H)	D	0-0
02 Jan	Newcastle (A)	W	2-0	Elano Gelson
12 Jan	Everton (A)	L	0-1
20 Jan	West Ham (H)	D	1-1	Vassell
30 Jan	Derby (A)	D	1-1	Sturridge
02 Feb	Arsenal (H)	L	1-3	Gelson
10 Feb	Man. Utf (A)	W	2-1	Vassell  Mwaruwari
25 Feb	Everton (H)	L	0-2

Premiership		HOME					AWAY
Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Goal Diff.
8. MAN. CITY	27	9	3	2	21	13	3	5	5	13	18	44	+3
9. Blackburn	27	6	4	4	17	14	5	5	3	19	20	42	+2
10. West Ham	26	5	5	3	16	13	6	2	5	15	10	40	+8
11. Tottenham	26	6	2	4	33	22	2	6	6	15	19	32	+7
12. Middlesbro	27	4	4	5	14	18	3	4	7	11	23	29	-16
13. Newcastle	27	5	5	4	18	23	2	2	9	12	29	28	-22
14. WIGAN	27	6	2	5	17	14	1	3	10	9	28	26	-16