It would appear that Noel Gallagher and Serge Pizzorno knew what they were doing when they celebrated drawing out their favourite teams against each other in the FA Cup 3rd round draw. What a cracking game. It's a cliche to call it a "proper cup tie," but I'll go ahead and do just that. End to end action, Leicester giving a good account of themselves and City showing the occasional flash of class that led to both goals.

City started out in a 4-4-2 formation. I've seen it described elsewhere as a 4-2-4, but I disagree with that identification. Hart was in goal in somewhat of a surprise. It would have been the perfect opportunity to give Given a run out in the team. The back four of Boateng, Toure, Lescott and Kolarov is strong enough except that I think Mancini rather out thought himself.

Because rather than de Jong or anyone else playing the base of the diamond sitting in front of the back four, Mancini went with Vieira and Milner as a central midfield combination. Adam Johnson and SWP completed the midfield out on the flanks. Up front City had Jo and Tevez working together.

My immediate reaction to this line up was a Leicester win. Quite simply put City do not have the quality of central defender required to play a back four straight up. And as good as Kompany has been this year, I include the Belgian in that statement. Now if Kompany isn't playing and Kolo Toure and Lescott are in the centre of defense this is even more true. Hence my multiple comments that City still need to buy a world class central defender.

You solve this issue by limiting the opportunities of the opposition in the ways that they can attack. Playing either a 4-2-3-1 or a diamond usually clogs the middle forcing attacks down the flanks where the back tracking of forwards or wingers can help to limit the effectiveness of these attacks.

Throw in a slow footed central midfielder in the form of Patrick Vieira and calamity is assured.

One minute in and said trouble duly arrived as Leicester scored via debutant Sol Bamba. An Ivory Coast international who apparently caught Sven's eye during the Swede's management of their national team, Bamba would in fact cause City fits all day winning ball after ball in the penalty area. We'll see more aerial attacks against City if the Toure/Lescott combination is used again.

Meanwhile City were effectively playing with nine men as both SWP and Jo were having absolute stinkers. I don't believe we'll see either man ever again in a City shirt. Leicester were good value for their lead until a moment of James Milner class led to the England international scoring his first goal for the club. The Foxes still were the better team yet on the stroke of half time a clever Carlos Tevez back heal saw City take an undeserved lead at the break.

Smartly de Jong was brought on for SWP at the half and City moved to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Milner in the Silva role and Johnson and Jo out wide. This was the correct move in that it immediately solidified the midfield and allowed City to hit Leicester on the break. So of course Leicester scored!

Hart had a clanger. It happens. Andy King scored from the mistake and the Championship side went in search of a winner. Mancini had obviously seen enough of Jo and brought on Zabaleta to provide someone who would track back when needed.

Those substitutions helped City shut up shop and I'd expect a better team selection and a better result in 10 days or so when the tie is replayed at Eastlands. One thing Mancini will discover with experience. You don't win the FA Cup playing weakened sides. That may be possible with the League Cup, but the FA Cup remains special. Clubs can, and do, play out of all proportion to their league position and the relative skill of the players involved.

Edin Dzeko is a great start to the January transfer window. However if City have any pretensions about challenging for the Premier League title or winning the FA Cup then a central defender must be brought in this month.

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