Hughes angry with City

Seventh place was on offer if the Blues could have won their match in hand. Instead, they turned in a woeful display against the managerless relegation battlers, ensuring they never looked like ending a winless streak away from Eastlands that dates back to August.

Generally, Hughes has always been able to put on a positive spin on previous City failures.

However, this time, he could only find abject disappointment.

"I was angry," he told Key 103.

"We work really hard all week to give the players information and an understanding of the game plan. But on Saturday that had not been taken on board.

"If you veer away from what you are trying to do, then you will be exposed.

"We didn't get anything like a performance on Saturday and in the end, we got what we deserved, which was nothing."

Ironically, while City remained in ninth, the brilliant form of local rivals United is threatening to do them a favour.

If the Red Devils overcome Tottenham in the Carling Cup final on March 1, another European spot will open up through the Premier League.

With the four teams from the top flight's top six kept apart in the FA Cup quarter-final draw, the chances of two higher-placed sides reaching the decider on May 30 has increased too, which could mean seventh position would be enough to seal a place in next season's newly-created Europa League.

Not that City have given up on qualifying as defending champions given they tackle Copenhagen in a last-32 first-leg tie on Thursday.

Hughes is crossing his fingers that star striker Robinho will be fit after he limped out of the Fratton Park debacle with a tight thigh.

As Darius Vassell missed Saturday's lacklustre performance on the south coast with an illness, Hughes needs Robinho fit, otherwise he could be short of forward players.

Benjani and Danny Sturridge have already been ruled out, which could leave Craig Bellamy, Felipe Caicedo and Ched Evans as his only available frontmen.

England defender Micah Richards is also facing a fitness test on the ankle injury that kept him out at the weekend after it initially failed to respond to treatment.

On the brighter side, Hughes is able to welcome back Shaun Wright-Phillips and skipper Richard Dunne from domestic suspensions.

However, new signing Nigel de Jong will miss out, having been overlooked in favour of Bellamy, Wayne Bridge and Shay Given when Hughes made his three permitted changes to his European squad last month.