Fans queue for tickets at Eastlands
Manchester City fans queued for up to eight hours to get their hands on a prized ticket for the FA Cup semi-final derby as Wembley fever sweeps across Manchester.
With United’s allocation set to sell-out within minutes when a ballot is held next week, determined Blues set up camp outside the Eastlands ticket office at 3am on Saturday even though it only opened at 9am.
The Blues are selling the hottest tickets in town to season card holders over two weeks. Any remaning will go on open sale on April 11 but, after just two days, the most expensive seats have already sold out.
At Old Trafford fans have until April 1 to register an interest, at which point a series of ballots will be held.
At Eastlands, City put on food, drink and toilet facilities for those queueing and sold more than 4,000 on Saturday alone.
On Saturday, many came prepared with sandwiches and hot drinks to combat the cold weather. Anne Worthington, 57, an administrator from Collyhurst, joined the queue at 6.40am.
After she emerged with her ticket just short of 11am, delighted Anne said: “We took our deck chairs and a flask of tea. Everything was very well organised by the club. We ended up sitting in front of a huge plasma TV watching Sky Sports News.
“We were prepared to be there until 3pm and we were surprised it happened so quickly. Sometimes City drive us to distraction but I love them.”
Anne’ s friend Clare Watson, a 55-year-old claims worker at CIS, added: “It was far better organised than I expected. We were there for about four hours which didn’t seem that long. It’s just a shame it’s a semi-final. It would have made a cracking final. And we are due to win a derby.”
Helen Griffiths, 48, a bank worker from Macclesfield, who was with her husband Anthony, 50, and their son James, 18, joined the queue in 50th place at 5.30am.
She said: “People started queueing at 4.30am as far as I know and the window didn’t open until 9am. We got served about 10am.
“We had deck chairs and were well wrapped up because it was freezing. City kindly put on catering and toilets.
“We had books to read and some sandwiches. We were prepared. When we came out the queue was huge. City have a chance if we get a good team out.”
David Platt hits back at 'negative' Manchester City claims
Revitalised Manchester City will be on the front foot as they seek a momentous end to an exciting season.
The Blues have been criticised for being too negative at times this season, especially after they succumbed to Chelsea 2-0 in their last Premier League game.
But first team coach David Platt has strongly refuted that accusation, and he believes that the team can step it up again after several key players were able to recharge their batteries during the international break.
The Eastlands clash with Sunderland will be the Blues’ 50th match of the season – only Arsenal can match that for a congested fixture list.
By contrast, Steve Bruce’s Black Cats are relatively fresh, having played an amazing SIXTEEN games less than City, whose schedule has been clogged up by Europa League fixtures and a run to the FA Cup semi-finals which has included two replays.
Little wonder that manager Roberto Mancini feels his team has become jaded, especially as injuries have disrupted his attempts to rotate the squad.
But the team likely to play Sunderland next Sunday has so far escaped lightly from the fortnight away, while under-fire striker Edin Dzeko received the confidence boost of heading a late winner for Bosnia-Herzegovina against Romania.
Carlos Tevez went back to Argentina for a four-day break last week but is now back in training, while David Silva, Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott and Jerome Boateng were all unused substitutes for their countries at the weekend.
Mario Balotelli was dropped by Italy for their 1-0 win in Slovenia, but is expected to figure in Tuesday night’s friendly with Ukraine in Kiev.
Adam Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips were left out of the England reckoning, while Vincent Kompany (Belgium) and Aleks Kolarov (Serbia) both had the boost of playing their parts in vital Euro 2012 qualifying wins.
Now City, with the fixture congestion easing, hope they can step it up for the remainder of the season.
And Platt rejects the claim that City have been too negative, especially in trips to play Arsenal and Chelsea.
“Chelsea came to our place and we beat them,” says Platt. “We had just come out of a great many games when we played them away.
“We went to Arsenal and they didn’t really trouble us after 20 minutes once we had swapped the formation around a little bit.
“When the opposition has the ball you have to defend and that is what we have done all season.
“What we haven’t been able to do, both at Arsenal and Chelsea, was get a foothold in the game offensively other than those early periods in each half at Chelsea.
“People can level these things at you but when the opposition has the ball you have to defend.”
The Chelsea setback dimmed the mood among the players, but Platt believes the belief in the squad remains untainted.
“All we can do is stay on our road,” he said. “There are eight games left and we will go into every game looking to win it.
“There is no focus other than trying to amass as many points as we can, and reach the final of the FA Cup.
“This group of players has stayed in the top four all season and is confident it will remain in that top four by amassing enough points.
“There is no need to panic. Nobody is looking at it and wondering if we can hold on to fourth place.
“There is a lot of football for all the teams to play between now and the end of the season, so we don’t aim for fourth or second or third.”
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OTHER BOLLOX
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Leicester City midfielder Andy King will sign a contract extension with the Championship club, despite interest from Everton and West Brom. Daily Mirror
England manager Fabio Capello has risked the wrath of fans by declaring he plans to send out a team of reserves against Ghana at Wembley. Daily Mail
Football Association director of communications Adrian Bevington says Tuesday's friendly is not meaningless and instead presents a chance for England to assess players at international level. talkSPORT
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has confirmed that Capello told him of his decision to change the England captaincy, despite the Italian's failure to talk personally with Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. Gerrard says he received a telephone call in which he was told John Terry was to be reinstated as skipper. Daily Telegraph
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere says England boss Capello told the side to play like Barcelona in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales, which the Italian's side won 2-0. Daily Mirror
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Aston Villa striker Darren Bent, who scored the second England goal in Cardiff on Saturday, says he wants to replicate his international goalscoring form at club level, with Villa battling against relegation. Daily Mirror
Ghana's Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has set his sights on making history by helping his country become the first African nation to beat England when they meet at Wembley on Tuesday. Daily Telegraph
Arsenal's Gael Clichy says he is upset after losing his place in the France national side to Manchester United's Patrice Evra, who had been left out following his antics at the World Cup in South Africa. Daily Mail
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho says he would require a £20m salary and a transfer budget of £150m if he were to return to the Premier League. Daily Express
Aston Villa defender Kyle Walker will be fit for their end-of-season run-in, despite picking up a groin injury while on duty with England. Daily Mirror
Kilmarnock manager Mixu Paatelainen says he is happy at Rugby Park after turning down the Scunthorpe job - but admits he would have to seriously consider the Finland position if he was offered it. Daily Record
No-one reminded Wayne Rooney he was on a yellow card before Saturday's game in Wales. Rooney's booking means he will miss the Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland on 4 June. Daily Star
Sao Paolo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni scored the 100th goal of his career - a free-kick placed in the top right-hand corner - to give the Brazilian club a 2-1 win over rivals Corinthians. the Guardian
