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Mancini claims City can win title

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 30/12/2009
Football betting

Roberto Mancini claims Manchester City are realistic challengers for the Premier League title this season.

The Italian coach has guided his new club to back-to-back wins in his first two games at the helm after Monday's 3-0 win over Wolves followed hard on the heels of the Boxing Day success against Stoke City.

"Now is not the time to look at our league position. We will just play one game at a time and then we will look at the table in two months," he declared.

"Can we win the league? All is realistic. We have another 18 games to go so all is possible because we have a good team.

"If we stay concentrated always it is possible with the players we have."

Are Manchester City realistic title challengers? - Latest Football Betting

Manchester United have granted goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar compassionate leave after his wife suffered a brain haemorrhage.

Van der Sar, who has himself been sidelined in recent weeks with a knee injury, has been given permission to return to Holland on an indefinite basis.

The 39-year-old Dutchman has not played since suffering a knee injury during United's 3-0 win over Everton on November 21.

Meanwhile, this week's Scottish Premier League fixtures have been decimated by the cold weather currently sweeping the British Isles.

Tuesday's game between Aberdeen and Hamilton at Pittodrie was the first to fall foul of the weather after being called off on safety grounds.

It was swiftly followed by the postponement of Wednesday's Hamilton versus St Mirren game at New Douglas Park.

Later on Tuesday, the decision was also taken to postpone the St Johnstone against Hibernian game and Kilmarnock's home meeting with Celtic, both scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Motherwell have appointed former Scotland boss Craig Brown as their new manager on an interim basis.

The Steelmen parted company with Jim Gannon on Monday and have wasted little time in brining in the veteran ex-national team manager, who will be assisted by former Scotland number two Archie Knox.

In cricket, England are hopeful that Paul Collingwood will be able to play a full part in the second Test against online betting favourites South Africa after scans on an injured finger revealed no bone fracture.

Collingwood was sent for scans on Tuesday morning after taking a blow to the hand during fielding practice.

X-rays revealed a dislocation and no break, so the England medical staff believe the middle-order batsman could play a full part in the remainder of the match.

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