CoinFlip

Fans were left perplexed at Craven Cottage to see a Manchester City team able to sustain attacks both against deep sitting defences and when seemingly pinned back.  Tevez was outstanding with his direct running and strength in possession while the supporting pass and move game played by Silva, Barry and somewhat surprisingly De Jong left Fulham's high pressing attacking game dumbfounded.  Not to mention a goalscoring full back on one side in Zabaleta and a left sided one whose set pieces were held in such high regard that he takes corners from the right.

As a long term holder of a bet backing City for the league, I'm probably going to be looking optimistically at a bet which is still at the price it started on, however, I sense that 9.8 really shouldn't be sniffed at.  Johnson, Milner, Boateng, Lescott, Bridge, Adebayor, Balotelli - futures uncertain in some cases - all made the bench at best in this game and yet wait in the wings to inject variety and impetus in to a team if the momentum is lost.  And that's not even considering investment potential in January where yet more experienced international arrivals could be added.

With rivals unconvincing and seemingly to have developed (and to be more than up for) grudge matches against all of the rivals for the title, City feel like the bet for the title when 3 points behind.  Looking past Stoke away which may even suit their physical team, there's a very winnable set of fixtures on the way too leading in to the new year.