Wigan // Roberto Mancini's decision to make Carlos Tevez the Manchester City captain paid off yesterday after the Argentine inspired his team to a 2-0 victory at Wigan Athletic. Mancini, the City manager, decided to hand Tevez the armband before the start of the season and believes it has breathed new life into the striker's performances. The Italian said: "I thought about it during the summer and I spoke to Carlos about it. He is an important player and he can improve as captain and we can have more of him.
"I'm very happy for him because at this moment he probably isn't at 100 per cent of his form. Maybe his goal can help him and it is fantastic he got it today." For Wigan's Roberto Martinez it was another case of defensive blunders costing his side dear with Mohamed Diame and Maynor Figueroa at fault for City's goals. Tevez struck City's opener out of nothing in the 43rd minute after Diame back-headed a long goal kick from Joe Hart, the City goalkeeper, into his path.
The Argentine then set up Yaya Toure's first City goal after 73 minutes when he seized on a weak defensive header by Figueroa to cross for the Ivory Coast midfielder. Martinez, the Wigan manager, said: "We created Manchester City's best chances and that is very disappointing. "At the moment from time to time we come out with this softness in our defensive play which really lets ourselves down and puts games out of our reach.
"In defence we showed a lack of intensity. We are giving ourselves a mountain to climb to get points from games and that is what is so disappointing." Martinez accepted Nigel de Jong may have been fortunate to stay on the pitch after two clattering challenges but he refused to seek any other excuses. "He was lucky but it was as self-inflicted defeat," Martinez added. "I will never look at anything else other than ourselves when it is so obvious what made the difference."
Meanwhile, Mancini has told Shay Given he can leave the club in January but demanded he remains committed until the transfer window reopens. Mancini said of his No 2 goalkeeper: "I have a lot of respect for Shay and I told him the situation before the finish of the [transfer] market. I told him. 'Shay, you can choose. I hope that you stay here but I respect your decision and if you want to leave you can.' He decided to stay here and until January he must stay here."
* Press Association