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

­dealing 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.”