Manchester City (A)

JFK takes his ramshackle squad to Eastlands tonight, giving Shay an opportunity to get used to his new workplace.

We're gutted that Given's reign as our Number 1 looks likely to end but if that is what Shay wants, who are we to complain? Shay has been a wonderful servant, bought for £1.5m after snubbing the mackems and being sick of playing understudy to Flowers and Blackburn. An almost automatic choice, when fit, Shay has consistently been in the Premiership's top 5 keepers and undoubtedly in Europe's top 10.

We can't help feeling though that Given has swapped one set of issues for another. Man City may find itself managerless soon enough if their poor run of results continue, they fail to bring in defensive re-enforcements and Mark Hughes fails to bring their Brazilian starlets into line. As if the blues need any more trouble, they've brought in Bellamy who will undoubtedly be looking to get one over us again tonight if selected.

City are not without their own injury problems, Dunne in particular may be a miss. Tonight's game may be more about which squad can deal with their clubs calamities more than who has the best 11 players on the pitch.

New signing Lovenkrands makes a great point in the Chronicle. Our next 3 games are winnable, regardless of our current squad status. Tonights game may be a lottery, but with regional pride at stake this weekend, and fellow strugglers WBA to come, 7 points would be a good return and should help set us up for a tough series of games in the run up to Easter.

Beyewatch prediction: 2 - 3 (Both defences are shocking and a few players are 'due a goal').