1. Manchester City’s test of mental strength continues
Some suggested last week that if Sergio Aguero’s knee injury rules him out until next year then Manchester City’s season will implode, but the Citizens have collected three straight wins without him. Granted, Manuel Pellegrini’s side had to grind out the two league wins but they came through with the results.
Just when it seemed that Manchester City were getting to terms with the absence of Aguero, Edin Dzeko picked up a calf injury. Vincent Kompany – their best defender – is unlikely to return to action until 2015 due to a hamstring injury he picked in the second-half.
David Silva’s return was supposed to restore Manchester City’s intricate football with a lot of goals but they do not have the accomplished strikers now and they are chasing a Chelsea side in good form. This title defence will be a serious test of their mental strength.
2. Different tactics but same story for the Foxes
For the first time in a while, Nigel Pearson changed his tactical approach as he ditched his usual 4-4-2 formation for a 4-1-4-1 system. The Foxes have been struggling for goals recently because they rarely create good chances and, when they do, their finishing lets them down.
They suffered from the same problems again; poor quality in their crosses from wide areas, erratic service from set-pieces and disappointing finishing when they had the few decent chances to test Joe Hart.
3. Dzeko’s injury could not have come at a worse time for the Bosnian striker
Last season ,Manchester City started with Alvaro Negredo and Aguero as their main strikers but they had a similar injury problem in forward positions so Dzeko stepped up and scored a lot of important goals.
This time, with Stevan Jovetic and Aguero out with their injury problems, the Bosnian centre-forward would have expected to step up again, only to have a calf injury disturb that for him.
His calf injury is probably not too serious, so he should be available soon but he would have wanted to exploit every minute as the first-choice focal point in attack.
4. Leicester City’s fans are the biggest source of hope for Pearson’s side
The Foxes home crowd were impressive for their team; they contested for decisions from the stands, they were passionately behind their side and they unveiled a banner showing their support for manager Pearson following his controversies.
The players needed that. They will continue to need that as they do not have a lot to draw confidence from; they are bottom of the table, they were the biggest losers on Saturday as some of their relegation rivals picked up vital points and their form is terrible.
The main thing going for them is that steadfast support from the King Power Stadium faithful. If Pearson’s side are going to improve their form, they will probably begin at home.
5. Manchester City cannot afford to let Frank Lampard go
Pellegrini said that he would love to keep Lampard for the whole season and, if there ever was any reason to doubt whether Lampard would play a crucial role in the Citizens’ title defence, this winning goal cleared any doubts.
City’s strikers are battling for fitness, their midfielders are nowhere near the goal-scoring form they showed last season and they are defending their title against a Chelsea side that rarely drops points.
