Given: Dealing with Delap the key
Roberto Mancini’s side take on the Potters for the second time in
four days after the sides drew 1-1 in the FA Cup fifth round at
Eastlands on Saturday. It was Delap’s long throw that led to
Ricardo Fuller’s leveller at the weekend and Given believes they
must deal with Stoke’s special weapon if they are to claim the
points. City are desperate to pip the likes of Liverpool and Spurs
to that all-important fourth place in the Premier League – and the
Irishman said: “You see it every week on Match of the Day, you know
what is coming, you know what to expect – but it is another thing
Âdealing with it. “At the Britannia Stadium you have the
narrowest pitch in the Premier League and Delap can wang it to the
near post, to the far post, anywhere! He’s got that ability. “So,
we know what’s coming. If we win Tuesday’s game we move into fourth
position. And then we go back again the following week for the
replay. “So, hopefully, by the end of the three games we’ll finally
know how to deal with Delap’s long throw! But, certainly, if we
want to win the FA Cup and finish fourth in the league then we’ve
got to come out on top of that long throw – and deal with how they
play.”