Manchester City manager
Sven-Goran Eriksson has told his players time is running out to
secure a European place following their 2-0 defeat at
Reading.
Shane Long gave the hosts a deserved lead in the 62nd minute
before substitute Dave Kitson sealed it late on, leaving City with
just two wins in their last 12 Premier League games.
That has seen City slide to eighth and Eriksson insists they
must bounce back to winning ways if they are to salvage European
qualification.
In the last three games, City have been a shadow of the side
that has spent most of the season in the top six - both in defence
and up front.
However, the Blues lost captain Richard Dunne to an early injury
at Reading and Eriksson felt Michael Johnson should have been
awarded a penalty just before the break instead of being booked for
diving.
"We've played three games now and haven't scored a goal," he
said. "Two of the games we've conceded were rather simple goals
which was not our case in the first half of the season.
"I don't think we deserved to lose today and maybe we should
have got a penalty. I think it was wrong by the referee, it's as
simple as that, so it's difficult times. We have to sort it out and
start to win games again.
"That's the most important thing now and we have to start to win
them quickly because there's only nine games to play."
City defender Vedran Corluka missed a gilt-edged opportunity
midway through the first half but moments later they lost Dunne
after he suffered a gashed shin.
Already without Micah Richards and Nedum Onuoha, City's
makeshift defence capitulated in the second half and Eriksson is
hoping Dunne recovers in time for next week's home clash against
Tottenham.
"I don't know if he had six or nine stitches in the front of his
leg," he said. "It was bad for him because he couldn't go on and
we'll see if he's ready for (next week) or not.
"Today they were two easy goals. The second I can understand
because our captain was already out and Michael Ball had twisted
his knee as well but we didn't have any more defenders on the
bench."
Eriksson's decision to continue with Benjani in a lone striker
role back-fired and the City boss admits there could be changes
against Spurs.
"When you play three games, get one point and don't score a
goal, you have to look at everything and see how we're going to
play next week," he added.