Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure lifted
the post-title gloom for Manchester City with a couple of outstanding
goals to defeat West Ham.
Last
season's elation at Eastlands has been replaced by the grim realisation
that the red enemy from down the road are back in their familiar
position of champions.
Manager Roberto Mancini has already demanded that the summer transfer business should not drag on like last year.
But
the City chief clearly has plenty of quality at his disposal already,
and the delightful efforts Aguero and Toure contribution to the
entertainment underlined the fact they remain a force.
Up and running: Sergio Aguero capped off a
magical City move, pouncing onto David Silva's intricate pass to fire
past Jussi Jaaskelainen
Match facts
Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Barry, Silva (Milner 78), Nasri (Kolo Toure 87), Tevez (Javi Garcia 83), Aguero. Subs not used: Pantilimon, Dzeko, Kolarov, Nastasic.
Booked: Zabaleta.
Goals: Aguero 28, Yaya Toure 83.
West Ham: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien (Carlton Cole 80), Reid, Collins, Demel, O'Neil, Diame, Vaz Te (Collison 66), Nolan (Taylor 80), Jarvis, Carroll. Subs not used: Henderson, Noble, Pogatetz, Joe Cole.
Booked: Carroll, Collison, O'Brien.
Goal: Carroll 90.
Referee: Howard Webb.
Attendance: 47,189.
There was an unexpected post-script
to the day though, with Joe Hart's mistake allowing Andy Carroll to net
an injury-time consolation amid fears the England keeper had suffered an
injury himself.
Mancini implored his players not to
feel sorry for themselves in his programme notes, the loss of their
title five games before the end of the season has to be a source of
regret.
For the last month now, the Blues have been the best side in the Premier League. Yet their dominance has come far too late.
Few teams are capable of the move that brought Aguero their opener.
Yaya Toure first exchanged passes
with Samir Nasri before the France midfielder played a sublime one-two
with David Silva inside the Hammers box.
Nasri crossed low to the near post, where Aguero turned home his 15th goal of the season.
It was brilliant stuff, if simple in its execution.
But where was this form at
Southampton, Sunderland, QPR or any of the other random venues where the
Blues have inexplicably dropped precious points?
Letting fly: Yaya Toure readies to unleash his howitzer, giving Jaaskelainen no chance
They nearly made it two almost
immediately as Jussi Jaaskelainen failed to hold Nasri's 20-yard strike
and Pablo Zabaleta closed in.
The Argentina star seems certain to
be named in the PFA Premier League team of the year tomorrow and must
have thought he was going to make the occasion with a goal.
Jaaskelainen redeemed himself though, turning away Zabaleta's shot from point blank range.
Other than that, the first-half was a fairly lacklustre affair.
Applause for Marc-Vivien Foe, a respected figure at both clubs, who died 10 years ago, punctuated long periods of near silence.
Tribute: Both sets of fans paid their respects
to Marc-Vivien Foe in the 23rd minute following the Cameroonian's tragic
death in 2003
Reflex save: Pablo Zabaleta forces Jaaskelainen into an excellent close-range save
Returning after three matches out
with a hamstring injury, Silva did his best to prompt City into life,
setting Aguero up with a chance he would normally have buried but
instead scuffed into the ground and onto a post.
For their part, West Ham played like a side whose return to the top flight has been consolidated by a secure mid-table finish.
It did not prevent Sam Allardyce
blowing his top at the fourth official though when referee Howard Webb
opted not to allow the Hammers to re-take a free-kick he appeared to be
preventing but the visitors took anyway, only for Matt Jarvis to be
immediately flagged offside.
Allardyce could have done with his
players showing similar passion and though they did return with a sense
of purpose, it was City who nearly extended their lead at the start of
the second period as Carlos Tevez's shot was blocked by Winston Reid.
How did he miss? Samir Nasri cannot believe he squandered a gilt-edged chance to put City 2-0 up
The opportunity have been provided by
a superb piece of skill from Nasri, who like so many in blue, failed to
reach the heights on a consistent basis this season.
Silva is another, Aguero also.
Yet the Argentina forward set up
compatriot Carlos Tevez with an astute cut-back, only for Joey O'Brien's
last-ditch tackle to deny the hosts.
Tevez turned provider for Nasri
shortly afterwards, but with the goal gaping the man who left Arsenal
two years ago and won a title at the first time of asking attempted to
prod home with his right foot and missed the ball altogether.
On the touchline, Mancini's face was a picture as he slumped into his seat.
On target: Andy Carroll fires a shot on goal...
But Joe Hart lets the ball slip under his body...
And into the back of the net...
Frustration turned to elation 10
minutes from time as Toure provided another moment of magic, creating
space for himself on the edge of the area before smacking a clinical
effort into the top corner.
In its own way, it was as wonderful as City's opener.
And City nearly added further gloss
to their day when Aguero was inches away after turning home the loose
ball after Jaaskelainen had parried Zabaleta's shot.
The last action involved Hart though,
who had gone down with an injury a couple of minutes earlier and still
seemed to be bothered by it as he inexplicably allowed Carroll's shot to
roll through his legs.
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