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Manchester City logo
FA Cup | Fourth Round
Jan 24, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Middlesbrough logo

0-2

FT(HT: 0-0)
Bamford (53'), Kike (93')

Manuel Pellegrini: 'Middlesbrough deserved it'

Manuel Pellegrini admits that his Manchester City side were second best as they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Middlesbrough.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has admitted that his side were second best as they crashed out of the FA Cup with a defeat to Middlesbrough.

The Premier League champions were beaten 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium, and the Chilean accepted that Boro deserved to go through to the fifth round.

Pellegrini told BBC Sport: "Before they scored the first goal, we had five or six clear chances. They didn't have one chance. But we conceded a very easy goal, and the game changed.

"We were nervous. They are a team who work well; that's why they are second in the Championship. They had opportunities to score more goals and deserved to go through.

"Now we must continue in the Premier League and Champions League. I wanted to continue in all the competitions but now we must focus on the Premier League and Champions League. We now have a difficult game against Chelsea, We must reduce the five-point gap."

City will look to respond when they travel to league leaders Chelsea next week.

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Patrick Bamford of Middlesbrough celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the FA Cup Fourth Round match against Manchester City on January 24, 2015
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