Manchester City defender Micah Richards expects the team to "keep strong" amid their latest difficulties.
City still have a four-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League but have endured a damaging month with elimination from two cup competitions and the absences of key players being keenly felt.
However, Richards said: "We have other stuff going on as well but we will keep strong and we will look forward to our next game, which is Everton. We will go there and try to get a win."
Captain Vincent Kompany has missed the last four games following his controversial sending off in the FA Cup third-round loss to Manchester United - also a key factor in that result - while striker Mario Balotelli has just begun his own four-match ban.
City are also unable to call on Yaya and Kolo Toure due to the African Nations Cup while the ongoing Carlos Tevez saga continues to attract headlines. Their latest disappointment came as they were edged out by Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup but Richards looked for positives.
The 23-year-old said: "Obviously Mario is suspended but we have got a boost now with Vinny coming back."
City's hopes of reaching the Carling Cup final were ended at Anfield as they were held 2-2 by Liverpool to go out 3-2 on aggregate.
Richards was at the centre of controversy after being adjudged by referee Phil Dowd to have handled to concede the penalty which led to the first of Liverpool's two equalisers. Richards, playing in an unfamiliar role as one of three centre-backs, stretched to block a Daniel Agger shot but the ball rebounded off his leg and hit his arm.
He told City TV: "I think the referee made a poor decision for the penalty. It struck my foot and has gone on to my hand.
"I don't know what he expects me to do with that. But it was a decision. I won't say it has cost us but it has clearly played a massive part."
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@4:What land is that,could it be DREAMLAND!
hhahahahaahahaahahaaha
Go to bed now sonny and SWEET DREAMS!
hahahahaahahaahaahaha
This is from FIFA. Rule 12 -states that it is ilegal if a player "handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)" This means that is not, I repeat not, a foul if the ball touches a player's hand. It is only a foul if the player intentionally handles the ball. As the ball hit Richards's foot first and then deflected onto his hand which was infront of his face, as he attempted to block the shot, it cannot be a foul.Mr Dowd, you got that one wrong. Unfortunately refs seem to be opting for the easy way out and awarding free kicks for handball which are clearly (according to the rules) NOT handball. Maybe some lessons needed for the refs?!!!!
Man City be careful, all the referees have turned into zombies and are coming to get you.
Conspiracy this, and conspiracy that,
Referee did this and referee did that,
Penalty this, and penalty that
Jesus christ city are starting to sound even more deluded than paranoid Liverpool.
good luck to liverpool and cardiff. we can move on (city), to bigger prizes and wider horizons with heads held high.
i s,pose our goal difference is as good as a point
Knocked out of two cups both due to incompetent refereeing.- I smell a conspiracy!
The Ref'eree's made better decisions when working part -time!
It goes to show they are just milking the full-time pay!
city attract these type of players because they were desperate and still are desperate....they are too desperate to try and make united look inferior, that they are actually going to do the opposite! chelsea tried, arsenal tried, even newcastle , aston villa, and blackburn tried, but in the end of a very small run, united will come out on top! always have and always will, get a grip you bitter blue noses! hahah
4 point lead at the top of the table??? get your facts straight Mr! its 3 points ...and it wont be 3 for long as the best team in the land is going to clear that advantage and make one of their own!
Too many penaltys are been given by soft refs too easily swayed by screeming players maybe instead of a goal half a point could be given but then what about serious offences?perhaps the ref could a bit more of a man and send the screeming arm waving idiot off ,or would mean Rooney and unnamed premier league footballer getting sent off too meny times.A good game all the same bit spoilt by the twoo penalty awards,come looserfool thrash the rags from Trafford
City have developed a knack for attracting players who court with controversy. balotelli is just one in a string of players who seem to be wired incorrectly, have ego issues, or just can't accept a referees decision. Attitude is the key, not whether a referee is dodgy.
The handball that wasn't Kompany's foul that wasn't
Beware City the referee's are out to get you
Hart will be sent off next for picking his nose when the opposition are in their own half
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