Keegan to stand by current squad

Kevin Keegan has signalled his intent to keep faith with the players who once again failed to deliver a result on Saturday.

Back in the frame?

City went down 3-0 to Chelsea, a result that has left them in the bottom three, but Keegan remained upbeat, preferring to take the positives out of a game that did at least produce a better performance than the previous outing at Southampton.

Keegan, who will have Danny Tiatto available again for the Birmingham game, told the official site that he will once again pick his squad from what he believes are the best players available to him.

"We have a lot of hard work ahead of us now. We have one or two players to come back. Danny Tiatto will return into the fold after his suspension. Richard Dunne who has got himself fitter was of course on the bench against Chelsea. Those things will help," said the boss

"But I do honestly believe that most of the best players who I have at my disposal played against Chelsea and for seventy minutes I thought they did very well for us."

"Goals change games and for the last twenty minutes we were second best, but that will happen in the Premiership against tough sides."

One player that seems to have forced his way back into the manager’s plans is Shaun Goater. The Goat’s attitude has been spot on this season and on Saturday he probably gave his best display of the season to date before being pulled off 20 minutes from the end.

Keegan praised Goater’s contribution and that of fellow striker Nicolas Anelka despite the fact that the blues have now failed to score in their last four league games.

"I thought Shaun and Nicolas were terrific. They did everything but score. But it is goals which turn the match and goals which win you matches. They got the break and we didn't."

Keegan will now look to lift his side with visits to the two other promoted sides in the next fortnight. Six points is looking a must.