If a string of draws where points were thrown away ultimately did for Mark Hughes, Roberto Mancini is quickly proving that the decision to trust him to take City to the next level was a smart one.
A home game against Blackburn, dogged and doughty opponents in games past, was the type of fixture that saw the wheels begin to come off under Hughes during the months of October and November.

With Robinho finally getting his wish to leave the Eastlands on a six-month loan deal to Santos, a bigger issue could be forthcoming at the City of Manchester Stadium. Despite manager Roberto Mancini's repeated encouragement for Robinho to stay at the club, the Italian's failure to promise first-team football to City's record signing proved the decisive factor in the Brazilian star's departure.

It appears as though progress is being made over the potential signing of Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson.
After Gordon Strachan poured water on a possible move yesterday, Sky Sports reported that Johnson himself was keen to speak to us over a move and today's MEN states a deal is 'edging' closer:

Manchester City are closing in on Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson to replace the departing Robinho.

Solid and unspectacular it may have been, but given some of the shambolic cup exits witnessed in recent years a routine FA Cup 3rd round win (against a bogey side) was very welcome.
It wasn't a performance that will live long in the memory, but it was a game that we controlled with the instruction to retain possession again very evident.

Benjani scored the goal for Manchester City to beat Middlesbrough. This is Mancini's side 3rd straight victory with him in charge.

Everton manager David Moyes has sent home Brazilian striker Jo after he travelled back to this hometown. Seeking permission from his club was something he ignored, and has been punished by being sent back to Manchester City. It's unlikely that he'll get much of a game at Man City with Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Tevez, Bellamy, Benjani and Robinho all pushing for a first team place.

Surprise starter (and with a hat-trick of assists under his belt) Benjani has spoken of his hope that his recent appearances may translate into a new deal come the end of the season:

"I'm very happy because I've started two games in a row and it's been a long time since that happened.

I was expecting worse news in all honesty:

MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini expects Roque Santa Cruz to be sidelined for a month with his latest calf injury.
The Paraguayan lasted just four minutes of his comeback at Everton on Saturday before going down with the same problem that caused him to miss three games over the Christmas period.

The confidence and brashness that was felt heading into tomorrow's game has no doubt been checked a little since the weekend - obviously because of contrasting results for ourselves and United, but also I'm sure because derbies rarely illicit a feeling of over-confidence as kick-off approaches.
There was much debate after the postponement as to whether the initial game being called off worked in our favour.

"That's the whole trouble. You can't ever find a place that's nice and peaceful, because there isn't any. You may think there is, but once you get there, when you're not looking, somebody'll sneak up and write "Fuck you" right under your nose."

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is which striker have we been linked with this morning, and what his lousy goalscoring record is like, and how his club were fed up with him before we approached, and all that David Di Michele kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.

Sky Sports News understands Sunderland are in talks to sign Manchester City striker Benjani.

Benjani's future at City has been the subject of speculation for the last few weeks with a number of clubs credited with an interest in the Zimbabwe international.

West Ham were believed to be close to signing the former Portsmouth man, but they have ended their interest in Benjani.

"We have entered into discussions with his representatives about the player.

We have just looked at the situation and we feel we are juggling the balls in the air a little bit and you are just hoping the squad is big enough and strong enough. With the injuries we have, we are worried we are a little bit light in that area, and we have decided that we will try to make a move.