City look to get back to winning ways

By Andy Leggott
March 22 2002

City will be looking to get the title charge back on track at Millmoor, where they visit for a league game for the first time since that famous day in 1966.

Unfortunately there will be no mathematical assurance of promotion on this visit after the embarrasing 2-1 defeat at Stockport on Tuesday. City do need to bounce back immediatley however, hopefully to set up a promotion party over the Easter weekend. The earlier meeting between the two teams was clouded in controversy, Christian Negouai scoring with his hand, Maradonna like, to equalise after Rotheram had dominated the first half. City ran the show in the second, but it wasn't until the final minute that Bernabia sealed the points with a deflected goal. Rotheram felt justifiably agrieved, but being City supporters we all know crap happens, and usually the other way around. City seem to be paying the price for so many fixtures in a short space of time, injuries appearing throughout the squad. Shaun Wright-Phillips is expected to make the team after picking up a knock on Tuesday and Stuart Pearce has also recovered from a bang to the head, again picked up on Tuesday. Danny Tiatto and Eyal Berkovic are rated little more than 50/50 to be fit, both will take late fitness tests. Paulo Wanchope is rated as doubtful again. Darren Huckerby should have recovered from the knock that kept him on the bench at Stockport and is likely to start up front with Jon Macken, The Goat dropping to the bench after incurring Keegan's wrath with a silly sending off on Tuesday. Expect another tough "cup final" in a tight little ground. Rotheram will want revenge for the injustice of Negouais' goal at Maine Road and will come at City from the off. They have quite a useful record at home and will be hard to beat. Personally I would be happy for a point, but I'll let my heart rule and tip City for a 2-1 victory.