Man City boss Mancini calm over poor recent form

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has defended their recent form.

Mancini's men endured a difficult January in which they lost to Sunderland and Everton and went out of both domestic cup competitions.

City have also encountered difficulties away from home, having won just one of their last six on the road in the league, but Mancini has played down any concerns.

"It is impossible to win away always, like we did at the start of the season," said the Italian whose team, by contrast, have a 100% home league record.

"You can win away but sometimes you can lose these games. Away games are difficult, not only for us, for all the teams. But until now we are top - we have done better than the other teams, away and at home.

"There are some games you lose away that you deserve to lose, but I don't think we deserved to lose any game away. Sunderland - we had 70% of possession, 29 shots on goal against two and we lost because we conceded an offside goal in injury time.

"Everton the same - 65% of ball possession with 15 shots for us against five or six for them. Chelsea was the same and we lost these three games. If you go away and deserve to lose 3-0 it is different but never did any team deserve to beat us away."