City boss vows to crash 'big four' party

‘The most open Premier League title race for years’ – that seems to be the general consensus of opinion 11 games into the season.

Having said that, leaders Chelsea are already eight points clear of fourth and fifth placed Manchester City and Tottenham and, even at this early stage, that’s quite a gap to close.

Sure, with Liverpool hitting a slippery slope, there’s every chance either City or Spurs could break into the top four – even Aston Villa could – but as for any desperate hopes of winning the title; they are just that...desperate.

City are giving it a good go though and, as Mark Hughes points out, everyone seems to be dropping points so maybe it’s not all cut and dried.

"That seems to be how the early part of the season is panning out. What we are looking for is a consistent run of results. But one defeat in nine, I would suggest, is consistent form,” says the City boss of his side’s decent start to the campaign.

“We are in good shape, in a decent position and there is more to come from us. We know that. Is our glass half full or half empty? I would say half full. We are the only side that's only been beaten once in the Premier League. That is something to look back on.

“Liverpool, Spurs and Villa have all dropped points recently. We have had four draws, three of them have been away from home and at places where other top sides have struggled to win and where, in fairness, City have found it difficult in the past.”

Whilst the league is obviously the priority for Hughes, he is also taking the Carling Cup very seriously too.

He added: "You just need to look at the quality of sides left in the tournament to know that clubs are now taking it more seriously. They are giving it more significance than they have done in the past.

“We made a statement right at the beginning that we would take it seriously and have a good run at it. We are now in the last eight with a lot of big clubs. We are in good shape; we are playing well and let's hope we get a good draw."

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