Alan Hansen might not be Mark Hughes' favourite columnist, but the former Liverpool and Scotland defender offers sympathy and support for City's manager in the Telegraph.

The Match of the Day pundit is backing the boss after six successive draws that have seen the Blues edged out of the top-four spot that was deservedly claimed at the start of the season.

Hansen writes: "With the money that Manchester City have spent, there is now pressure with every game and there is a greater expectancy from both the supporters and the owners, but that is what comes with being at the top.

"There is no doubt that City are on the right lines. The days of them finishing 10th are long gone and, whether it is this season or in the future, they will become a top-four club sooner rather than later.

"Mark is a calm guy, and he certainly won’t be panicking. I can point out that they haven’t won any of their last six league games, but he can spin it the other way and tell his players that nobody has beaten them in that run and that they have lost just once all season to an injury-time goal at Manchester United.

"If City beat Hull at Eastlands next Saturday, then all the concerns will go away. They will then go into the game at home to Chelsea the following weekend with Eastlands absolutely buzzing and a real big-four feel about the occasion."

Jocky adds: "City are being punished for every mistake they make at the moment and it happened again at Liverpool. For the third time in four games, they gave away a lead through bad defending.

"Their defensive problems have already been identified this season, but when you look at their personnel, City have a great goalkeeper and some very good defenders. Even if you had the best 11 players in the world it would take time for the players to gel and settle as a team, and that is what is happening at City.

"City have been shipping too many goals, but even the best players take time to get used to each other and there is no magic formula."

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