Hamann - We must maintain standards - Sport in brief

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The Blues are second in the Premier League after six games played, with Sven-Goran Eriksson having so far won three out of three at home with no goals conceded.

And Hamann told Sky Sports: "It won't be easy. After 10 or 12 games you will see whether the big four make a move and obviously it's very difficult to stay up there,"

Michael Johnson was the match-winner for City against Aston Villa on Sunday, as he was against Derby in their first home game, playing a neat one-two with Elano before jinking past Martin Laursen and shooting across the body of Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson in the 48th minute.

There is a real feelgood factor around the club but Hamann, who knows from his Liverpool days what it takes to be in and around the top four, offered some words of caution.

"Last year we had a very bad home record, and I think that's key this year - to pick up enough points and wins, get a few wins away from home.

"If we can do that we can stay in the top half. But I think we are going to have to wait until Christmas and see where we are then," he told Sky Sports.

City boss Eriksson was glowing in his praise for midfield starlet Johnson, he said: ""He was excellent. You can't say if his speciality is attacking, defending, passing, shooting, he can do all these things.

"That's very rare for a young man. How he took the goal, you must be mature to do that. He had one, two defenders coming at him and he was very calm.

"He is a very good football player and of course he will be better than that."