City must use Europe return to raise game, says Given

The Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given believes the team owe it to the supporters to give a performance tonight away from home against FC Copenhagen in the Uefa Cup. City arrive in Denmark for this first leg match in the last round of 32 on the back of a 2-0 Premier League defeat by Portsmouth at Fratton Park at the weekend. It was another dismal performance on the road by City and does not bode well for their return to European action.

Given insists they must raise their game against a side who are still on a winter break from domestic football. He said: “It was a huge disappointment at Portsmouth for everyone involved with the club. We were not good enough and we need to rectify that. Whenever you have a bad performance it is great if the next match comes quickly and you can start to put the record straight. We know we let the fans down at Portsmouth when we were not good enough on the day.”

Given is relishing the chance to play at this level again after appearing for Newcastle on the continent. “I have some great memories of European nights and I hope to have some more here this season,” he said. “It is hard to define but there is definitely a different atmosphere surrounding match nights. Sometimes there is not the blood and thunder of the Premier League and it is a little bit more cagey. You find teams want to keep possession more and try to hit you on the break.

“The Premier League tends to be all guns blazing at times but in Europe you have to be tuned in and have a good game-plan. We need to put right our away form in the Premier League but I know there has been nothing wrong with it in the Uefa Cup so far.”

FC Copenhagen (probable, 4-4-2): Christiansen; Jensen, Laursen, Antonsson, Wendt; Gronkjaer, Sionko, Kristensen, Neestrup; Nordstrand, N’Doye.

Manchester City (probable, 4-4-2): Given; Richards, Onuoha, Dunne, Bridge; Kompany, Elano, Ireland, Wright-Phillips; Robinho, Bellamy.