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CITY CAN BE ‘BEST OF REST’ SAYS DUNNE

CONFIDENT: Richard Dunne

Monday September 24,2007

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RICHARD DUNNE thinks Manchester City can be the “best of the rest” this season. City have been the surprise package of the Premier League so far and this thrilling draw kept Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men among the early pacesetters.

Eriksson has already dismissed any hopes City will break into the top four, but captain Dunne believes they can finish top of the League’s second tier.

“At the moment we’re playing reasonably well and deserve to be among the leaders,” said the central defender.

“Each week as it comes along you have to make sure the same commitment and desire is there. There’s no team that’s going to go and grab that fifth place on their own. Over the last few years any team that’s qualified for the Uefa Cup has done it on the back of a good start.

“So far, we’re probably the best of the rest and we’ve had the best start of anyone else.

“We take each game as it comes. The manager said Fulham is a place you come to and win if you’re going to be in the top four. We need to be winning more games away from home.

“We just want to get as many points as we can and then if the manager strengthens the squad in January we can have another look and say we have got a squad to challenge for the top four, or definitely make sure we’re in the shake-up for the Uefa Cup places.”

Simon Davies put Fulham ahead with a near-post header, before Martin Petrov equalised with a shot that went through the legs of Aaron Hughes to beat goalkeeper Antti Niemi.

Hameur Bouazza’s free-kick restored the home side’s lead shortly after half-time, but an error from Niemi saw Emile Mpenza level the scores again with a close-range header. Niemi was then at fault when Petrov’s angled drive beat him at his near post.

Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez threw on Danny Murphy in the hunt for an equaliser and the move paid off as the on-loan midfielder slid the ball past Kasper Schmeichel after Seol Ki-Hyeon’s headed flick.

“It is good and bad in many ways,” said Murphy. “We’re making chances, showing good character. We’re never down and out in any game, that’s for sure. But credit Manchester City. They have got some good players, they caused us problems.

“There were a few scrappy goals out there for them and us. I suppose you would have to watch it again, but in the end we were a little unlucky not to sneak it.

“We had a couple of chances near the end, a few scrambles which didn’t fall for us. I missed a chance near the end, but they might say the same.

“It’s finding that balance between playing decent football so the fans who come to the Cottage enjoy it because that’s important. But finding a balance where you get points on the board as well because the last thing we want to be is near the bottom of the table.”

Murphy was part of the England squad for a time when City boss Eriksson was in charge of the national team and the 30-year-old is pleased to see the Swede succeeding.

“I said sorry to him for the equaliser at the end,” said Murphy. “It’s nice to see him doing so well. Already any slim doubts people had about him as a club manager have been put to bed.”