12 November,2010 08:54 AM IST | | Agencies
Vincent Kompany has dismissed theories Manchester City have developed a negative mindset under manager Roberto Mancini.
The Italian's side came under fire for failing to attack rivals Manchester United in the Eastlands derby-day draw on Wednesday.
That goalless stalemate led to Mancini facing questions about his tactics on his own patch.
But Kompany believes the mega-rich side will soon be racking up the goals and is refusing to press the panic button ahead of a run of winnable games, starting at home to Birmingham on Saturday.
"As a defender I would rather a game finished 0-0 than 4-4 or something," he said. We are still in a good place in the league (fourth, seven points adrift of leaders Chelsea).
"We are still very much in it and we will make sure we win against Birmingham," Kompany added.
"There is a four-point gap now between us and our competitors for the Champions League spot.
"It is interesting and things are going in a good way for us.
"We have played maybe the five best teams in the country in Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, United and Chelsea and kept four clean sheets against them.
"Those teams usually score for fun but we have done well to contain them. It is a positive thing. Goals will come in our next games.
"It is a very long season. The dangerous month of December is coming, so there will be a lot changes in months ahead."
The Eastlands outfit host Birmingham knowing anything but a win will pile the pressure back on Mancini.
His cautious approach has received criticism but Belgian defender Kompany defended the tactics against one of his side's main rivals at the top of the Premier League.
"We were not going to give anything away against Manchester United," Kompany insisted. "We did not want to give them any presents.
"There was a lot of build up to that game and everybody did their best. It was just both teams did better defensively than offensively."
City face a side at the wrong end of the table and with Birmingham manager Alex McLeish warning his supporters will have to wait until the New Year to see the best of Alexander Hleb.
The loan signing from Barcelona has struggled to make an impact at St Andrew's following his return to the Premier League in pre-season.
McLeish has been forced to take the Belarus international out of the firing line, while he tries to get the former Arsenal maverick right both mentally and physically, and fears it could take another two months to really get him back up to speed again.
By January, the Blues will have paid a million pounds for him in loan fees. But McLeish insists Hleb needs to sort his head out before he shows the form that persuaded Barcelona to sign him for 11 million pounds.
"We are working hard to integrate him into the team, but he has to work hard too," McLeish said.
"He has to be psychologically right as well as physically fit.
"If a player hasn't done a pre-season, they don't get up to speed until December or January. It takes them that long to get going.
"We are doing all we can to help and find the right place to play him and it is a process that will continue."
City have no fresh injury worries, although Mario Balotelli remains sidelined as he serves the second game of a three match ban following his red card at West Brom.
Birmingham's only major casualty is James McFadden, with the Scotland striker out until the New Year because of a knee injury.
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