Premier League match time dawns at City of Manchester Stadium, on New Year's Day, when Manchester City host Blackpool, in match week 21.
This is a return match between the sides, with the previous game hosted by Blackpool on October 17, ending in a thrilling 3-2 win to City, on the back of a brace by Tevez. The Argentine striker underlined his importance to City's fortunes in the league, last season, when he got 29 goals, and he appears likely to rival that performance in the current season, and has already got 12 goals in his tally.
SEASON 3 PREMIERE
All the goals in the first game came in the last 25 minutes, with Tevez opening the scoring on 67 minutes. To Blackpool's credir, their substitute Harewood put them level ten minutes later, but City's Argentine striker replied almost immediately with his second goal of the game.
Pre-season relegation favourites have been playing with aplomb, and deserved a point on the day. As it transpired they scored a second goal in stoppage time, but Silva had already closed out the game for City, with a stunner in the 90th minute. Silva accomplished it with a curling strike after running past a couple of defenders.
The result also underscored some defensive frailty in the City back-line, despite the long list of marquee names signed up by the richest club in the premiership. But that did not impair the Citizens in their away game against Newcastle in match week 19, a game that they won 3-1 on the back of another brace by the reliable Tevez. That win put City's title bid back on track.
Curiously, Man City have not been as impressive at home as in away game. Their last home game against Everton in match week 18, ended in a 2-1 loss. In nine home games this season, City have lost two, while winning four and drawing three. Blackpool's away record has been impressive, especially in view of their pre-season relegation status. The Bloomfield Road squad have won four and drawn ftwo of ten games on the road, while losing the rest.
Blackpool's last away game in match week 17 ended 1-0 in the visitors' favour at Britannia Stadium, a venue that the best teams have found difficult to play in. Expect Blackpool to show plenty of fight in the New Year's game against City, even though Mancini's squad might prove a little too strong for Holloway's men.
Man City's starting eleven against Newcastle had Hart, Boateng, Lescott, Kompany, Kolarov, Barry, De Jong, Milner, Y Toure, Silva and Tevez. Balotelli, Vieira and Johnson played as substitutes.
The following men comprised Blackpool's starting eleven against Stoke City in match week 17: Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Grandin, Adam, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell and Varney. Phillips was the only substitute used.
Premier League Match Time: Manchester City Vs Blackpool SEASON 3 PREMIERE