Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has publicly stated to English media that the team have already put their surprise 2-0 home defeat against Arsenal last Sunday behind them, as they look to focus on closing the gap with league leaders Chelsea currently five points clear at the helm. 

The top two sides in the Premier League will go head-to-head on the 31st of January, with many critics claiming it is a "title decider" - nothing but a victory will do for The Citzens, who narrowly managed to win the title in the 2013-14 season under the noses of a powerful-looking Liverpool side who looked unstoppable with Suárez and Sturridge up-front. 

City play against nPower Championship side Middlesbrough in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and manager Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping that his side can go all the way in that competition, as well as retaining the league glory that ensured the Chilean became the first South American to win the English league title last year. 

Hart had this to say, to Sky Sports News HQ: "We are confident, sometimes stuff happens and you lose games. It wasn't down to a lack of effort or lack of ability - a penalty and a set-piece has cost us. We have performed well for the majority of the season, but sometimes it happens and we will bounce back. There is a long way to go, we have got Middlesbrough in the FA Cup which we are looking to win. It was a great feeling (when we won it) a couple of years ago.

We go to Chelsea to put right what happened on Sunday, we are together, we are a great group and we enjoy each other's company - it helps that there is a lot of quality in the dressing room. It's the Premier League, it's happened to us many times when we have won it, but it's happened one too many times this season but it's not lost."  

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Mosope Ominiyi
Writer and editor - European football analyst, youth enthusiast. Email: [email protected]