Manuel Pellegrini reveals gameplan to bounce back from dull derby in Capital One Cup

Manuel Pellegrini has ruled out a repeat of his side's defensive display against Manchester United

MANUEL PELLEGRINI has promised Manchester City will return to normal attacking service in the Capital One Cup tonight after Sunday's derby bore draw.

 

Pellegrini was unhappy his side retreated into a defensive shell in the second half of their goalless stalemate at Old Trafford and took little satisfaction from the praise City received for their defensive solidity from TV pundits like Gary Neville and Danny Murphy.

Ahead of their fourth-round home tie with Crystal Palace he said: "I like it when we defend well but what I don't like is playing for a draw. It's not my mentality. It wasn't our intention to play that way and we didn't in the first half.

"But in the second half we gave the ball away too often and couldn't attack because we were always trying to recover the ball and couldn't create chances. So when you don't do things correctly you must change it and make sure you don't lose. I hope on Wednesday we will return to our normal performance."

 

Midfielder Fernandinho is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season on Sunday while Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Samir Nasri, Fabian Delph and Gael Clichy are all still ruled out by injuries.

Pellegrini is set to give young Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho his first start. The 19-year-old came on at Selhurst Park last month to score last-gasp winner.

Palace boss Alan Pardew believes meeting City and Manchester United in consecutive games is just what Crystal Palace need to respond to successive defeats.

 

With Aguero out injured, the manager may turn to youngster Kelechi Iheanacho to spice up his attack

Palace lost at Leicester on Sunday and at home to West Ham the previous week, but now face City in the cup before hosting United in the League.

"They're good games for us," insisted Pardew. "We look forward to this sort of game - and hopefully we can get ourselves a win."

Dwight Gayle is available following suspension, giving Pardew another forward option in the continued absence of Marouane Chamakh (hamstring) and Connor Wickham (calf). Patrick Bamford and Fraizer Campbell are also in contention to start.