Ade ready to fight to the end

Emmanuel Adebayor has underlined the importance of maintaining our focus for the full 90-plus minutes against Manchester City.

Our Togolese target man has been in fine form of late, plundering six goals in his last eight games, but has warned against switching off when we come up against tonight’s free-scoring visitors.

“It’s going to be a very difficult match because they are on top of their game at the moment and they are playing some good football,” Ade said.

“We just have to believe in our quality and focus on our game. At the moment we are playing quite well, scoring goals and winning games, so if we play with the same spirit we will have a chance to win the game.

“We’re playing in front of our fans. I think all the fans know how deadly City’s strikers are and how they became a very strong team to beat in the league. The supporters will do everything to spur us on and we will do everything to make tonight better for them and better for ourselves.

“But don’t get me wrong, it’s going to be a very important and very difficult game until the end. Even if we have a chance to lead, it’s not going to be over until it’s over.”

Ade, of course, first joined us from the Etihad back in 2011, initially on loan, before making the permanent switch in 2012. And although he remains on good terms with many of Manuel Pellegrini’s charges, the striker confessed any personal friendship goes out of the window when City arrive at the Lane this evening.

“Since I left Manchester City they’ve bought maybe three or four players who I didn’t know but the rest of them, they are my friends,” he added. “I’ve still got a lot of friends at City but tonight we’ll forget about the friendships for 90 minutes.”