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Mancini celebrates ‘very important’ win

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said that the margin of his side’s resounding win over Sunderland surprised him.

City, who moved six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham in the chase for a Champions League spot, thrashed the Black Cats 5-0 at Eastlands.“I am surprised but I am happy. It is important that we scored five goals,” said Mancini.”We always play to win. If we continue like this we’ll finish very well.”Goals from Adam Johnson, Carlos Tevez, David Silva, Patrick Vieira and Yaya Toure leapfrogged City above Chelsea in the Premier League, with the kind of attacking display not usually associated with Mancini’s side.”It was important for us to win this game because we had the chance to go into third position,” added Mancini.”Before the game I thought it would be difficult because it is not easy to beat Sunderland.”They are a strong team who work very well and their manager [Steve Bruce] knows everything. But we started the game brightly and that was important.”It is possible that it will give us confidence for our remaining games. It is important now that we continue and go to Liverpool and win next Monday.”Mancini also claimed that Johnson, who scored on his first start after returning from injury, could spearhead City’s charge for a Champions League spot.”When we lost Adam, that’s when our problems started,” said the Italian. “He is the one player we have who can change a game. Adam is not 100% fit yet but he showed today he is very important to us.“With seven games to play in the Premier League, City are well placed to fulfill their season aim of qualifying for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish.Mancini’s side are third in the table with 56 points from 31 matches, a point more than Chelsea in fourth and six points more than fifth-placed Tottenham, both of whom have a game in hand.”Our target at the start of the season was the Champions League. We are in that position now and it is perfect for us,” said Mancini.”We always play to win but sometimes it depends on the opponent. We have played every three days in the last month and we have had a lot of players injured.

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Bruce urges Sunderland to bounce back

“Now with the players recovered, if we continue to play like this we can finish very well. Chelsea have one game in hand but Arsenal are only three points ahead of us.”With an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on 16 April, Mancini does not believe that City’s good form will concern United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.”Ferguson knows the FA Cup semi-final is one game in which anything can happen and I think he knows Manchester City very well – like we know Manchester United. It’s a one-off.”While the season still holds much promise for City, Sunderland have now gone seven league games without a win.The Black Cats have 38 points after 31 matches and manager Steve Bruce thinks that is not enough to guarantee survival, which leaves them 12th in the table and six points clear of West Ham in 18th.”We haven’t got enough points in the bag,” stated Bruce. “We are six points [above the relegation zone] and there are seven games to go. We have been on a horrific run.”We have played some of the top six and we have found it very difficult with a half-fit squad, but that is not to make excuses. We have to arrest that.”

Police chiefs give Celtic and Rangers list of banned songs in sectarian crackdown

Apr 3 2011 Exclusive by Hugh Keevins, Sunday Mail

POLICE will issue the Old Firm with a list of banned songs as they begin their biggest crackdown on sectarianism.Both Celtic and Rangers will be asked to distribute the list to fans and ask them to stop singing them.The banned songs are thought to include The Famine Song, The Billy Boys and other tunes that glorify terror groups such as the IRA and UDA.Senior Strathclyde police sources say officers are ready to wade into stands to arrest offenders.A source said: “The police and the clubs need to work together and there has to be change in attitude by fans.“Thousands sing these songs but we cannot turn a blind eye any longer.”These songs have to become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving.”Persistent offenders will be warned inside grounds.If they fail to stop, they will be arrested and could be taken to court and banned from attending matches.Fury over sectarian singing has increased in a season which has already featured six highly-charged Old Firm matches.The Catholic Church last month compained about singing coming from the Rangers end during the Co-operative Insurance Cup final, which Rangers won 2-1.And Rangers fans have been prosecuted for singing The Famine Song, described as racist by High Court judge Lord Carloway.It contains the words “the famine is over, why don’t you go home” and has also been attacked by Celtic chairman Lord Reid.Last month, the Sunday Mail revealed a Celtic fan had received a two-year banning order and a £300 fine for a song which described Rangers manager Walter Smith as a “sad, Orange b*****d”.Lawyer David McKie last month successfully defended police officer Christopher Halaka who was accused of chanting pro-IRA slogans at a Perth taxi rank.He was cleared of breach of the peace with religious aggravation at Perth Sheriff Court.Mr McKie said: “Some songs about the IRA and UDA may be sectarian but singing them isn’t necessarily breaking the law. The lyrics may be about history and politics and have nothing to do with religion.”Scottish historian Professor Tom Devine, of Edinburgh University, said: “There should be caution until we see how this works.”But questions remain. How are those engaged in such singing to be identified? “Will they be charged with breach of the peace aggravated by sectarian intent? “And will the ban apply to all football matches and parks in Scotland?” Last night Celtic said they were unaware of the plans and couldn’t comment on the new measures.Rangers were also unable to comment.