Man City keeper Given admits Delap throw-ins have the beating of him

Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given admits the scud throw-ins of Stoke City's Rory Delap are a huge threat.

City fell for the sucker punch – and Given admitted Delap’s speciality could prove ­destructive to their FA Cup and Premier League hopes over the next 10 days.

Given said: “You see it every week on Match of the Day, you know what is coming, you know what to expect – but it is another thing ­dealing with it.”

City, having cashed in on Ryan Shawcross’s 11th-minute *****-up to go ahead through Shaun Wright-Phillips, were undone by sub ­Delap’s laser-like throw-in.

The ball flew over a sea of blue shirts and Ricardo Fuller planted home his 57th-minute header .

City must find a solution before their league match at Stoke ­tomorrow and the Cup replay there a week on Wednesday.

Given said: “At the Britannia ­Stadium you have the narrowest pitch in the Premier League and Delap can wang it to the near post, to the far post, anywhere! He’s got that ability.

“So, we know what’s coming. If we win Tuesday’s game we move into fourth position. And then we go back again the following week for the replay.

“So, hopefully, by the end of the three games we’ll finally know how to deal with Delap’s long throw! But, certainly, if we want to win the FA Cup and finish fourth in the league then we’ve got to come out on top of that long throw – and deal with how they play.”