De Jong at a loss to explain Man City form slide

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong cannot explain their form slide.

The pressure is starting to mount on manager Mark Hughes after a record-breaking seventh successive draw in the Barclays Premier League, at home to Hull on Saturday.

"We have to sort it out," said the former Ajax and Hamburg man.

"We are frustrated at the way we played (against Hull), and the way we have played in the last couple of weeks at home.

"We have to dominate teams here, and that didn't happen. It was the seventh draw, so we don't get any closer to the top four.

"I would love to give you a reason (why City are drawing so many games) - if I could give you the reason, we would win all of our games.

"Maybe there is a lack of confidence in some situations. We try to keep our confidence high, especially when we play at home."

Manchester City 1-1 Hull City

Hull City fought back to earn a draw against Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League.


Jimmy Bullard drove home an 81st minute penalty to condemn Manchester City to a seventh successive draw at Eastlands.

Shaun Wright-Phillips' first half effort seemed to have secured victory for the hosts to end their unhappy streak.


But a spot-kick provided the perfect opportunity for Bullard to strike. And he did not let his team down.

Man City boss Hughes warns Tevez of future supersub role

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has hinted he sees Carlos Tevez as a supersub.

After another draw at Liverpool, Hughes has his hands full trying to keep everyone happy, from owners who want a return on their investment to players who struggle with the concept of squad utilisation.

Six straight draws suggest the first part could be going better, while saluting Tevez’s qualities as a substitute will do little for the second.

It wasn’t what the 25-year-old had in mind when he moved, but he may have to get used to it after going on in the second half and sparking a revival that almost left Rafa Benitez having to explain a sixth Barclays Premier League defeat of the season.

"Carlos has had a bit of a problem with his knee, but not starting him was a tactical thing," declared Hughes. "You are not going to go gung-ho at Anfield because the likelihood is you will concede goals.

"Once we went behind it was time to introduce him. It was always my intention to bring him on at some point, because of the impact he can have from the bench. He got us into a winning position which we didn’t see through.

"He won’t play every game, as a lot of others won’t, because we have a good squad. It has been frustrating for him."

Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City

Liverpool and Manchester City battled out a 2-2 draw at Anfield in Saturday's first match.


Substitute Yossi Benayoun saved a point for Liverpool in a tense Barclays Premier League match at Anfield.

Manchester City had been ahead deep into the second period before Benayoun's close-range intervention.

Liverpool took the lead when Martin Skrtel converted Steven Gerrard's free-kick early in the second half. Emmanuel Adebayor's header and Stephen Ireland's clever close-range flick put City ahead before Benayoun forced home the equaliser.

Man City made check on Portugal U21 pair Carrico, Faria

Manchester City had scouts at Wembley to make a check on Sporting Lisbon defender Daniel Carrico.

Carrico skippered Portugal U21 in their 1-0 defeat to England on Saturday.

His assured displays at the heart of the Sporting rearguard have caught the attention of Eastlands boss Mark Hughes. Carrico's current contract does not expire until July 2013 - but the right-footed defender does have an £18.4m release clause.

City are also keen on Rio Ave fullback Fabio Faria, who also featured on Saturday.

Real Madrid star Kaka has no Man City regrets

Real Madrid star Kaka has no regrets turning down Manchester City last January.

The Times says Robinho seemed to smile particularly widely when Kaká, sitting next to him, was asked if he had any regrets about not joining City when he had the chance in January.

“No, I’m perfectly happy at Real Madrid,” Kaká said.

Robinho, too, was asked about his future, given his apparent agitation for a move to Barcelona. An agent claiming to represent the player has been quoted saying that he did not want to stay at City but Robinho side-stepped the row.

“My father is the only one who represents me and he has never given an interview,” he said.

More media pressure for Man City after Tevez revelation

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has been handed a new media headache through Carlos Tevez.

Tevez's admission yesterday that he may quit after the 2010 World Cup is sure to bring more media pressure on Eastlands.

The Times says with City already having to contend with intense speculation about the future of another high-profile South American, Robinho, the Brazil forward, the last thing they will want now are questions about how long Tevez will be at the club.

It certainly represents another unwelcome distraction for Hughes, the manager, who was returning with the squad today from Abu Dhabi, where they have spent the week on a winter training camp, and raises questions about the club’s ability to keep their big names happy.

Manchester City 3-3 Burnley

Burnley scored late to earn a spectacular 3-3 draw at Manchester City.


Kevin McDonald tapped home an 87th-minute equaliser to give Burnley a share of the spoils at Manchester City.

After establishing a two-goal lead through Graham Alexander and Steven Fletcher, it seemed the Clarets were slumping to yet another away defeat when City roared into the lead thanks to Shaun Wright-Phillips, Kolo Toure and Craig Bellamy.


But when Fletcher's nod-back fell kindly for McDonald, he wasted no time in delivering the visitors' first away point since their top flight return, and extending City's sequence to five successive Barclays Premier League draws.

Burnley skipper Caldwell insists they can rattle Man City

Burnley captain Steven Caldwell insists they won't lie down at Manchester City this weekend.

Centre half Caldwell accepts their quest for their first away point, or points, does not get any easier this weekend, but as he pushes for a place in George Burley’s Scotland squad for their friendly with Wales, he insists their confidence hasn’t been knocked by their away disappointments.

“They are all difficult games in this league and Manchester City certainly isn’t an easy place to go and try to pick up our first points.

"The task is hard but one that we’ll relish and try to play to our strengths,” said the Burnley skipper to the Lancashire Telegraph.

“We know their qualities and if they play up to them it will be extremely difficult for us to win, but as we’ve seen on Sunday (when City drew 0-0 at Birmingham) there is a possibility we can get a result.

“Birmingham, on the whole, probably deserved to win. Shay (Given) was tremendous and Fad (James McFadden) missed a penalty.

“But as Manchester City have proved this season, especially at home, they’ve got top quality players who can hurt you at any minute.”

Man City boss Hughes can see UAE friendly being annual event

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is happy to be taking his squad to Abu Dhabi for their friendly with the UAE.

Hughes believes the game may become an annual fixture, if the international calendar allows.

"It's an opportunity for us to take a team to our home from home," said Hughes, whose coaching team will also be staging clinics and whose players will be getting out to meet the people who live in the city.

"We are looking forward to it - with it being international week we will be taking a development squad of the younger players, of whom we are very proud.

"We have a production line from the academy, and want to take the best players to give them experience of playing abroad, so it will be a good exercise.

"We also want to enjoy the kind of welcome which we have always had when we go to Abu Dhabi."

Birmingham City 0-0 Manchester City

Honours were even at St Andrew's as Birmingham City and Manchester City played out a goalless draw.


James McFadden saw his second-half penalty saved by Shay Given as Birmingham were forced to settle for a point against Manchester City on Sunday.

City were indebted to their keeper not only for his spot-kick heroics but also a string of other superb saves to deny McFadden, Lee Bowyer and Christian Benitez as the big-spending Eastlands outfit struggled to find their best form.


Birmingham's Barry Ferguson was sent off when he collected a second booking deep into injury time.

An in-depth match report will be available shortly.