Manchester City’s away trip to Norwich City will tell us everything about Roberto Mancini’s men.
After all the soul searching and deflation which came from City’s defeat to Arsenal, it is a case of ‘back to as you were.’
United’s midweek slip-up against Wigan let City back in, and now we will find out what the Eastlands club is all about.
Now the pressure is back on, will they crumble again?
Their win at home to West Brom was a comfortable affair, with welcome goals for Aguero, Silva and Tevez, but it was hardly taxing for City.
Roy Hodgson’s West Brom side made several changes and made it easy for City, never really looking like testing them.
Norwich City at Carrow Road will be a different kettle of fish entirely.
The Canaries are full of confidence after their surprise 2-1 win at Tottenham, and will not give City an easy ride.
City’s away form since the turn of the year has been poor, and this will be a real test for them.
How match fit is Carlos Tevez? Enough to start two games in a week?
Does a goal at home to a poor West Brom side really mean Silva has got his form back?
Can Sergio Aguero do it away from home?
All are intriguing questions which we will find out the answers to this weekend.
Are City fighters, or are they chokers?
Win and the title race is truly back on, lose, and it is probably over again.
Norwich are no pushovers at home, United beat them narrowly via an injury time Ryan Giggs goal, and they beat Newcastle 4-2 earlier in the season.
Arsenal and Spurs both came away with wins, but Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw.
Norwich have lost just four of 16 home games all season, and will not want to see that increase to five, so City will have to be at their best to get a win.
If City can win, which remains a big if still, they will temporarily reduce the gap at the top to just two points.
Then it will be United’s turn to feel the pressure, and as City can attest to- when the pressure is on, strange things can happen.
image: © wonkerq
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