Manchester City 1-0 Wigan: Zabaleta hits a cracker but Blues really need Kaka

When City and Kaka finally get to have a chin-wag about the Manchester team's plans for world domination, the Brazil forward should be shown a video of yesterday's game.

The £108million target will not be too overwhelmed by the skills on show at Eastlands - apart from a neat cameo by Daniel Sturridge and a fine winner from Pablo Zabaleta.

But he might be impressed by the grit and determination shown by Mark Hughes's side, who were reduced to 10 men following Richard Dunne's dismissal.

All the talk this week, of course, has been about City's world-record bid to sign Kaka. Their ultra-ambitious billionaire owners know the Milan superstar will need a lot of convincing if he is to join.

Up until Dunne's sending off for kicking Amr Zaki - virtually under referee Lee Mason's nose - the Blues had been lacklustre and directionless.

Zabaleta had given them the lead after fine work on the right by Sturridge. The 19-year-old went past Titus Bramble and Maynor Figueroa before crossing into the box. Paul Scharner headed straight out to the Argentine star, who volleyed past Chris Kirkland from 15 yards out.

Moments later came the red card - and for the last half-hour the Latics threw everything at Hughes's boys. But City hung on, their fighting spirit epitomised by Zabaleta.

City flew out of the traps and Samba star Robinho should have had a brace in the first half. First he raced on to Elano's lob, shooting wide of the post with only Kirkland to beat. Then Bramble cleared his neat chip off the line after Elano had again put him through.

But after Dunne's moment of madness it was backs-to-the-wall time.

This was a vital three points for the under-pressure boss who, with Jose Mourinho supposedly lined up to replace him, needs to make an irresistible claim to keep his job.

Steve Bruce admitted the visitors' poor finishing cost them a point. "Amr Zaki missed a glorious chance to equalise," said the Wigan manager. "His gaffe will be shown on all those Christmas videos for years to come.

"And the referee did us no favours. After he sent off Dunne he tried to even things out by giving them all the decisions."

True, Zaki did miss an absolute sitter - heading over when only a few yards out and completely unmarked.

But the way the home side dug in will have pleased the down-to-earth Hughes - and, he hopes, a certain Brazilian superstar.

"I would love to have the opportunity to work with Kaka," said Hughes. "He is an outstanding player. It's a complex deal and we'll give it the time it deserves. The idea is to meet his father this week. He's his main adviser.

As for the game, Hughes added: "There's been a big distraction this week but we kept our focus. The key today was getting the three points. We had to dig in. It's been hard to focus this week but I was pleased with the way we kept our minds on the game."

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