CITY will be looking to arrest a run of five straight defeats at Derby County this Friday in a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports (7.45pm).

Under normal circumstances a winless run stretching five games would have us City fans concerned but in the context of the season so far it will hopefully just be a blip, and an understandable one at that.

The winless run started against league leaders Wolves just before the New Year in a tight game which we lost in the last minute.

Two days later our depleted and tired squad went to Aston Villa, a tough place to go at the best of times, and it was clear the players’ legs had gone.

Then we lost 3-0 at Watford in the FA Cup, though this was the reserve team, in a competition that has little importance this season given our exploits in the Carabao Cup!

Our performance at Manchester City last week was magnificent and not deserved of defeat, but probably the best club side in the world at the moment know how to win games at the death.

Saturday’s 1-0 reverse at home to Norwich City was probably the most disappointing result of the lot, however I still felt we were the better side and unfortunately luck was just not on our side on the day.

We remain in the Championship play-off positions and I’d have bitten your hand off at the start of the season to have got to where we are; and with a superb cup run on the side.

Friday’s game at Derby, who are currently second in the table, will be tough but next Tuesday’s arrival of Manchester City in Bristol for the second leg will be even tougher.

Not many pundits will be giving us a chance of overturning a 2-1 deficit but in this amazing season for the club, I believe anything is possible.