Post Match Thread: City 0 - 2 Middlesbrough

Following a midweek trip to the Abu Dhabi, it seemed the travel had an effect on the team. City came out with  strong lineup with only four changes from the team that lost to Arsenal a week prior.

In the first half City had a good amount of the possession for much of the game but when it came to the final third the team just couldn't find that final touch to get a goal. Kolarov sent a couple of whizzing crosses in front of goal but they weren't directed on net by the diving efforts of Jovetic. City continued to put the pressure on Boro as shots from Milner, Aguero and Jovetic were saved by Mejias, who kept City off the scorers sheet and the game up for grabs. Heading into the second half it seemed like City were just going to need one moment to get the lead, but Middlesbrough had other plans.

With City desperate to grab the lead goal and take the pressure off heading down the home stretch of the game, it was them who would concede first. On a seemingly harmless ball through the middle of the field, Boro's Albert Adomah poked the ball past the on-rushing Caballero, which Fernando couldn't keep the ball from landing in the goal as the Chelsea loanee, Patrick Bamford, intercepted the clearance with his shin and into the the back of the net. The goal seemed to take the energy from City as Pellegrini threw on Lampard, Fernandinho and Dzeko to salvage the game. City chased the game but continued to be frustrated by the Boro defense. Frank Lampard almost drew the teams level, but his deflected shot hit the post and bounced out. Boro continued to put the pressure on and City's defense cracked in the dying embers of the game when Kike put the visitors up 2-0 in the second minute of added time.

City now need to regroup as we face a tough test next weekend against league leaders, and fellow FA Cup upset (is that a word?), Chelsea. Huge game and could be the exact medicine City needs to get back to winning ways.