PELLEGRINI: FOXES COULD BOTTLE IT
MANUEL PELLEGRINI has cranked up the title heat on Leicester as Manchester City get ready to pounce on any run-in jitters. The Chilean watched an 18minute demolition job on Aston Villa stop the rot for his side, who had lost their last three Barclays Premier League games to leave them 10 points adrift of the leaders. Although they have a game in hand against Newcastle, the recent stuttering leaves them well behind Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes. Pellegrini, however, is refusing to throw in the towel. ‘We need not only to win our games, but also hope Leicester and Tottenham can lose some points and after that we will see which team has the most experience to play the last few games,’ he said. ‘For every team, whether they have experience of a title run-in or not, there is a lot of pressure in the last part of the season. ‘Maybe if you are not used to being involved then the pressure is a little bit more. But normally the last five games are very difficult for all the teams because it doesn’t matter if you play good or bad, you just have to win the games — so nerves are important.’ Pellegrini is adamant lifting the trophy from here would be the club’s biggest domestic achievement given the chronic injury list they have battled. David Silva’s ankle knock means he is still playing through the pain barrier, while Kevin de Bruyne and Samir Nasri should finally be fit by the end of this month. Sergio Aguero’s fitness has not been quite as troubling as previous campaigns and he scored twice against hapless Villa, also missing a penalty as he missed out on a seventh hat-trick in City blue. With 10 goals in his last 10 matches, Pellegrini knows the Argentine will still have a big say in this title race. MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Clichy; Navas, Fernandinho, Toure (Garcia 80), Silva (Iheanacho 70); Bony (Sterling 62), Aguero. Subs not used: Zabaleta, Kolarov, Caballero, Mangala. ASTON VILLA (5-3-2): Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Clark, Cissokho; Gana, Westwood, Veretout (Bacuna 74); Agbonlahor (Gestede 70), Ayew (Sinclair 80). Subs not used: Okore, Gil, Bunn, Lyden. Booked: Veretout. Referee: Lee Mason. Attendance: 53,892. Man of the match: Sergio Aguero.