PELLEGRINI WANTS 'AGGRESIVE' MAN CITY APPROACH

Manuel Pellegrini takes a reinvigorated Manchester City side to Cardiff this weekend looking to maintain their flying start to the season.

City opened their Barclays Premier League campaign in impressive fashion with a 4-0 thrashing of 10-man Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Monday.

Pellegrini's men were dynamic from the first minute and overran the Magpies with some slick attacking football.

It was an early indication of the style with which Pellegrini intends to play, the Chilean having been charged with the responsibility of not only winning silverware, but doing so with elegance.

Pellegrini said: "I think we played in the way I want my team to play. It is an aggressive team.

"During the game we were scoring goals and not playing depending on whether we were winning or losing.

"We tried to play 90-minute football. I am sure the players are enjoying this way and we will try to continue.

"It was just one match but it is very important to continue this way and at the end of the season we will see who has won the title."

Confidence will be high heading to promoted Cardiff, who lost their first game of top-flight football in 51 years 2-0 at West Ham on Saturday.

City, however, will travel to the Welsh capital without influential captain Vincent Kompany after the Belgium defender suffered a groin injury on Monday.

The full extent of the injury is yet to be revealed but there are doubts the 27-year-old will be fit for next week's clash with Hull.

His absence leaves Pellegrini with defensive problems with Matija Nastasic having only returned to training this week - earlier than scheduled - after an ankle injury.

With Micah Richards also nursing a knock, midfielder Javi Garcia played alongside Joleon Lescott in a makeshift backline in the closing stages against Newcastle.

One other possible option is 22-year-old Dedryck Boyata, who is hoping to kickstart his City career after loan spells at Bolton and FC Twente in the past two seasons.

Striker Stevan Jovetic, the only one of City's four summer signings not to feature on Monday, is likely to be in contention after a minor hamstring issue.

"May the Force be with us"

I think Boyata would be worth a cheeky loan bid if Man City bring in another centre back.

Think we should get right stuck in from the off give them some of the stoke treatment for the first ten minutes, some physically tough challenges, a word or two in there ears and a few kicks, if we can just over power them a bit to make them aware that we will be playing hardball they may start backing out of tackles in fear of injury. Buy us a bit of time to settle and try to start knocking the ball about a bit. We need to get the ball up to the edge of their box and try winning some free kicks for bellers, whits cornelius to have a free pop at goal. We certainly wont have the speed, technicality and wit to out play them, so hopefully with the voices from the crowd to spur them on we can try and limit them slightly and find a way into the game.

Medel to get the first challenge in.

I agree with Merlin, I think weve gotta do exactly the same. Be aggressive all over the park but go with the Danish Tank for this one, I would be telling him to get stuck right in to Man City's central defenders.

Give them a torrid time, its the only area of weakness I can think of. Kompany is usually a big loss to them, they might have that Nastasic back from an ankle injury, a clumsy strikers challenge see how that holds up!

No mercy!

If Medel gets sent off its game over!

I agree with Merlin, I think weve gotta do exactly the same. Be aggressive all over the park but go with the Danish Tank for this one, I would be telling him to get stuck right in to Man City's central defenders.

Give them a torrid time, its the only area of weakness I can think of. Kompany is usually a big loss to them, they might have that Nastasic back from an ankle injury, a clumsy strikers challenge see how that holds up!

No mercy!

Nastasic is a clumsy defender but won't play, only returned to light training for them.

totally agree with up and at 'em. No good trying to be defensive, west spam made a mockery of us so man city would take us to the cleaners. I want to see city players full of commitment, positivity and belief

totally agree with up and at 'em. No good trying to be defensive, west spam made a mockery of us so man city would take us to the cleaners. I want to see city players full of commitment, positivity and belief