Squad sheets: Manchester City v Birmingham City

Roberto Mancini has taken umbrage about the allegation that his tactics are too conservative for a side with title aspirations, but Manchester City have scored fewer goals than newly promoted Blackpool and West Bromwich Albion and are fourth largely due to the fact Joe Hart, on loan at Birmingham last season, has already kept four clean sheets. Mancini's men were happy with a 0-0 draw against a Manchester United side missing several key players in midweek, but the dynamicswill be different on Saturday and the onus will be on them to attack a side that have slipped to 17th, only one point off the relegation zone. Daniel Taylor Venue City of Manchester Stadium, Saturday 3pm Tickets £36-38 (www.mcfc.co.uk) Last season Manchester City 5 Birmingham 1 Referee Mike Jones This season's matches 9 Y 32, R 1, 3.67 cards per game Odds Manchester City 4-9 Birmingham 9-1 Draw 7-2 Manchester City Subs from Given, Vieira, Jô, Lescott, Adebayor, A Johnson, M Johnson, Zabaleta, Wright-Phillips, Richards, Bridge, Santa Cruz Doubtful Adebayor (calf), M Johnson (knee) Injured Nimely (ankle, Jan) Suspended Balotelli (second of three) Form guide DWLLWW Disciplinary record Y26 R2 Leading scorer Tevez 7 Birmingham Subs from Doyle, Murphy, Bowyer, Phillips, Jerome, Derbyshire, Míchel, Vallès, Parnaby, Beausejour, Jiranek Doubtful None Injured Taylor (shoulder, 20 Nov), McFadden (knee, Feb) Suspended None Form guide LDDWLL Disciplinary record Y18 R1 Leading scorers Gardner, Jerome, Ridgewell 3 Match pointers • Birmingham have kept one clean sheet in their last 15 Premier League away games • Manchester City's last home defeat to Birmingham was in the Championship in April 1998 when a last-minute Dele Adebola goal secured a win for the visitors • 57% of Birmingham's goals have come from set pieces, the highest proportion in the top flight • Manchester City are the only side not to have scored a headed goal so far this season • Cameron Jerome has been caught offside more times (17) than any other player