HART DROPPED

Manchester City’s Joe Hart was recently dropped from the first team by Manuel Pellegrini after a series of errors, which have cost the team dearly in some matches. His latest error came in the 2-1 defeat against Chelsea. It looked like City were going to come away with the match having earned a well-deserved point, but Hart committed a blatant error in the final minute of the match to allow Fernando Torres score a simple tap in. This meant that Chelsea not only took three points, but they also opened an advantage over City.

After the match, Pellegrini refused to back his goalkeeper since he felt that he had made one mistake too many in the last six months. Hart was subsequently dropped from the City first-team for the match against Newcastle United in the League Cup, although he was expected to be on the substitute’s bench in the first place. The weekend’s match against Norwich will provide a suitable answer whether Hart remains the first choice at the Etihad stadium.

Midfielder Jack Rodwell, though, thinks that the England number one will continue to remain the first choice at City even though he will remain on the bench for the next few matches.

“Joe is No 1 and Costel is good competition for him. He is a good lad, who trains well every day. He and Richard Wright are both good, but Joe is No 1. Costel put on a good performance at Newcastle. He is an international keeper, but having Joe in front of you it would be difficult for a lot of keepers. Costel digs away, he put on a good performance, and the Capital One Cup is good for him this season,” said Rodwell.

Pellegrini has stated that the 26-year-old could do with a spell on the sidelines.