Zabaleta calls for City response

Pablo Zabaleta is confident Manchester City can get back to winning ways when they host Leeds United on Sunday.

The Yorkshire outfit will no doubt be sensing another upset is on the cards, having knocked out Tottenham Hotspur in the last round.

Confidence levels will also have soared watching Roberto Mancini's side humbled 3-1 at Southampton last weekend.

That result has left City licking their wounds and 12 points behind rivals Manchester United in the Premier League title race.

And now City will be placing much more emphasis on lifting the FA Cup trophy, having also won the competition back in 2011.

Argentine defender Zabaleta insists: "I think it was just one of those days at Southampton when everything went wrong.

"It's not an excuse but sometimes when everyone is away for international duty in the days before, it is difficult to prepare in the normal way and I think it didn't help us on this occasion.

"We are aiming to get back to winning ways at the weekend in the FA Cup and that is our our immediate focus now."

City could see the return of defensive skipper Vincent Kompany from a calf strain, having been sidelined since the victory over Stoke in the last round.

Manchester City are 3.50 to win the FA Cup for a second time in three seasons, while Manchester United can be backed at 3.50 to clinch the trophy and Chelsea at 5.50.