(Loans With Quick Sign) City’s controversial passage to last eight - Times Online
Manchester City returned to winning ways last night with a controversial victory over Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium, but their delight at reaching the quarter-finals of the League Cup for the first time in seven years was tempered by an injury to Micah Richards that could have far-reaching repercussions for club and country. Richards has become as valuable to England as he has to City so the sight of the defender being carried off on a stretcher in the 74th minute with a twisted knee will have been as alarming to Steve McClaren, the England head coach, as it was to Sven-Göran Eriksson, the City manager. Eriksson was reluctant to make predictions about how long the 19-year-old may be out, but he must be a doubtful starter for England’s friendly against Austria in 15 days’ time and, more worryingly, the critical final European Championship qualifying game against Croatia at Wembley eight days later. Diouf sent a free kick spinning off the crossbar, Gavin McCann had a header cleared off the line by Michael Ball and Richard Dunne nearly headed into his own net, but City clung on as Bolton’s luck showed no signs of improving in front of another paltry crowd of 15,510, nearly half of whom were City supporters. Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here . Learn more
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