MANCHESTER City skipper Sylvain Distin knows exactly what he wants for Christmas - three points.

The Blues defender accepts that he and his team-mates cannot afford any more disastrous slip-ups, particularly at home, if a season full of promise is not to turn into one of New Year toil.

The Frenchman's Noel will indeed be 'Joyeux' if Leeds can be sent packing at Eastlands tonight and if City can manage a decent holiday period the captain can still see a top six place being unwrapped come the spring.

"I cannot speak for the team," he said. "But my ambition is to finish in the top six, and I want to qualify for the UEFA Cup but not by the back door like this season. I am sure we have the quality to do this. It is not a dream as I am sure we can achieve it.

Ambition

"Europe is important to my career. I am still learning about what it takes to play in Europe but I would still love to play again next season and to be drawn this time against a big team.

"But my first ambition is to get the points tonight in our Premiership match. We must think about that now and winning a game. That is the only way to get back on track. We have to win, we will have to fight for it, work for it and as players we will have to work for each other as a team.

"This game is probably even more important because it is at home. I think the fans are now becoming impatient. They have been disappointed and frustrated. So we have to be more confident in our approach and give the fans reason to be confident in us.

"I am not thinking of the actual opposition, I know it is Leeds but it could be Liverpool or any other team in the Premiership. It is 11 against 11. I go back to the game against Chelsea when we lost 1-0. They are a great team but we did not play badly and showed we could compete them.

"I just want to win, to work hard and give my best for the team, then I will think about the next game."

Keegan has hinted that there may be changes tonight as he tries to halt an eight-game run without a win and a worrying Premiership sequence that has yielded just one point from a possible 15.

Antoine Sibierski, Eyal Berkovic and Claudio Reyna will all come into Keegan's thinking along with striker Jon Macken, who has yet to be handed a league start this season, and fit-again defender Michael Tarnat.

"There comes a point after you stick with players and try out different things that you think I have to change this before it gets too late," declared the manager.

Options

"We are getting pretty close to that point now. That was the point of the practice match at Eastlands in midweek,to look at different things.

"I think you go through a lot of thoughts. To suddenly make six, seven or eight changes would not be on but certainly two or three are possible with the quality that is waiting to come in.

"There are people on the outside at the moment champing at the bit to get a game and there are people on the outside at the moment who can honestly come to me and say that they haven't had a chance yet. We will see what happens over the Christmas period."

Key opponent: Mark Viduka - the big Aussie is starting to find form.

Last season: Manchester City 2 Leeds United 1

Prediction: Manchester City 2 Leeds United 2

BETFRED:

Man City 1/1 Draw 12/5 Leeds 9/4

Correct Score
Man City To Win
1-0 11/2
2-0 10/1
2-1 17/2
3-0 18/1
3-1 16/1
3-2 22/1

1st/Last Goalscorer In Match
Anelka 11/2
Fowler 6/1
Wanchope 7/1
Sibierski 11/1
Sinclair 12/1
Berkovic 12/1
Wright- Phillips 10/1
McManaman 14/1
Bosvelt 20/1
Barton 25/1

Anelka & Man City 2-0 60/1
Fowler & Man City 3-1 80/1
Sinclair & Man City 3-0 85/1

Odds subject to change. For all the latest odds, ring BETFRED on 0800 73 11 210

What should City's XI be tonight? Have your say.

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