Mancini wary as City aim to start picking up points on travels

Invincible at home this year, Premier League leaders Manchester City face consecutive away games over Christmas, with manager Roberto Mancini wary of offering up unexpected gifts at West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland.

City, who lead the table at Christmas for the first time since 1929, drew 1-1 at Liverpool, then lost 2-1 at Chelsea in their past two away league games and Mancini wants a return to winning ways on the road, starting at West Brom on Boxing Day.

“We still have Chelsea, United, Tottenham and Liverpool to come to the Etihad Stadium, but we need to win away games as well, and we have only one point from our last two,” said Mancini, whose side lead champions Manchester United by two points as he goes into his third Christmas campaign as City manager.

“I have a lot of respect for West Bromwich, and for (manager) Roy Hodgson - he is one of the best managers in Europe. It will be very hard because they play good football. They have had some problems but won their last two away games and seem to be in good form.

City have few injury worries ahead of a spell of three games in little more than a week and should have swashbuckling full back Micah Richards available after injury.

While Mancini has an embarrassment of riches, the pursuing pack are feeling the pinch a little with injuries and suspensions testing their squads. United have home games against Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers before concluding their holiday fixtures away at Newcastle United and manager Alex Ferguson, preparing for his 26th Christmas in the Old Trafford hot seat, knows how vital the jam-packed holiday programme can be.

He was boosted by news that Phil Jones suffered no break to his jaw in the 5-0 win at Fulham on Wednesday, but winger Ashley Young is sidelined for the clash with Wigan, against whom United have never dropped a point.

Despite the statistics, Ferguson is a big fan of Wigan boss Roberto Martinez, whose team are in good heart after morale-boosting home draws with Chelsea and Liverpool.

“I watched Wigan versus Chelsea and I thought Wigan were terrific,” he told United’s website.

“It says a lot for Roberto Martinez, he continues to play good football irrespective of what position they’re in. We have a good record against Wigan, but we won’t take anything for granted. We need to keep our foot on the pedal.”

Injury-hit Tottenham, in third place with 35 points, go to Norwich City on Tuesday before a New Year’s Eve clash with another of the promoted sides, Swansea City. They will be without Rafael van der Vaart and winger Aaron Lennon, while striker Jermain Defoe is another struck by a hamstring curse afflicting the north London club as they mount a creditable top-four challenge.

Fourth-placed Chelsea (33 points) are low on defensive options as they prepare for the Boxing Day derby at home to close neighbours Fulham.

Arsenal, who are fifth (32 points), will not have to travel out of the capital over the holidays, hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday before London derbies with Queen’s Park Rangers and Fulham.

Liverpool hope to put the controversy surrounding their support of Luis Suarez, found guilty of racial abuse, behind them with home games against bottom club Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United before their trip to City.