EPL Manchester City: 5 Targets for the Remainder of October

Manchester City have started October well.

Thumping Blackburn 4-0 despite losing Sergio Aguero to injury early on was a good result, especially considering Blackburn had beaten Arsenal in their previous home game.

City were able to stamp their authority on the match and Mario Balotelli netted for the second consecutive game which maintains the healthy competition up front.

Here are five objectives Roberto Mancini needs to meet in order to guide his team into a successful position to negotiate November's happenings.

If Mancini is able to fulfil these objectives, he'll have happy Manchester City fans singing his name once more.

I hope you enjoy the slideshow.

Stay in the Champions League

Villarreal have played two games, losing both

Since Manchester City may already be fighting for second place behind a frighteningly good Bayern Munich side, failing to win against Group D's whipping boys will put a potentially huge dent in their ambitions to advance to the knock out stages.

There's not been a better time to play them for a while either, since star striker Nilmar is out due to surgery. Villarreal are not the force they have been in recent years and Manchester City will be favourites to take three points from this fixture.

Should City fail to win, their qualification hopes will rest on a succession of away victories and bettering Bayern Munich at home. None of these are easy tasks.

Don't Lose the Derby

This derby promises to be one of the most exciting ever recorded. Manchester City will finally walk out onto the Old Trafford pitch genuinely believing they are equals and with good reason.

If Manchester City's key players can perform in this fixture, they can come away with a win. But the objective of both Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini will be "don't lose, win if you can."

A loss for either side in this fixture will not only be three points dropped in an incredibly tight title race already, but a severe mental blow to a rival.

City cannot lose this derby.

Prove Strength in Depth

Manchester City have been drawn Wolves in the League Cup, meaning they face the Midlands club twice in a row.

It will be important for the club to win both fixtures, but the club should look to prove their strength in depth by travelling to Molineux and beating an out-of-form Wolves team with a second string 11.

It is well established that City have one of the biggest and most talented squads in the league and if they can utilise this to remain in the cup, they can then roll out the big guns at the Etihad stadium and win resoundingly in the league.

Setting an example like this will strike fear through many of Manchester City's rivals.

Continue the Flow of Goals at the Etihad

Manchester City fans are loving their weekend trips to the Etihad stadium at the moment. The goals are flying in and defences look around in bewilderment as the likes of Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli rip them apart.

To continue the feel-good factor around the Etihad and maintain a positive atmosphere, Manchester City need to continue the goal rush throughout the remainder of October.

The good news is that with Aston Villa and Wolves coming up as home fixtures, there opportunity is there to continue freely scoring. Villa have had a very solid defence so far, but there is every chance they will crumble at the Etihad as they often do so. Wolves are looking quite poor at the moment and the chance is there to pile the misery on them.

Draw a Line Under the Carlos Tevez Saga

The Carlos Tevez debacle needs to be sorted this month.

It should be investigated and dealt with swiftly, so the uncertainties and disruptions emanating from the situation do not distract the team from what's important: results on the pitch.

The need to draw a line under the issue isn't just for the team either, it's for the dedicated fans who pay to see their players play for them and give their all on the pitch.

It's also for the objective fans who are quite simply fed up of Tevez's antics and just wish to watch Manchester CIty's flowing, skilful football without the backdrop of a sulking millionaire.