Manchester City vs. West Ham: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League
Manchester City moved within a point of third place with a comfortable 2-0 victory at home to West Ham United on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.
The hosts dominated from the start and took the lead through James Collins' own goal in the 18th minute. Sergio Aguero then doubled the lead nine minutes before half-time, netting his Premier League-best 20th goal of the season as City hit an out-of-sorts West Ham on the counter.
It was not all good news for City, though, following a potentially serious injury to David Silva, who left the pitch on a stretcher with his neck in a brace in the 75th minute following a clash with Cheikhou Kouyate.
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The victory moved Man City up to 64 points through 33 matches, just one point behind rivals Manchester United in third place. Arsenal are two points ahead in second, and leaders Chelsea are a further 10 points clear of the Gunners.
Winning was a welcome bit of good news for the hosts, who have been in poor form of late. Losers in four of their previous six league matches before Sunday, City saw their title hopes evaporate after spending New Year's Day level on points with Chelsea.
But while the title is out of reach, a spot in the top four—and perhaps even second place—certainly is not for Manuel Pellegrini's side. Up next, City will hope to establish a new winning run when Aston Villa visit on Saturday.
West Ham, meanwhile, remained in 10th place following defeat in what seemed a disinterested performance. With manager Sam Allardyce's future uncertain amid reports of interest from Sunderland, per talkSPORT, motivation could become an issue as the season comes to a close. The Hammers are comfortably mid-table, with neither relegation nor a European spot remotely likely, meaning the players might feel as if they have little to play for during the run-in.
Up next for West Ham is a trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
Manchester City took control of the match early, winning the ball high up the pitch and repeatedly attacking West Ham's goal. Silva shot off target in the 11th minute, and Aguero saw his low effort saved one minute later. In the 16th minute, Aleksandar Kolarov curled a rasping free-kick just wide of the post.
City found the reward for their fine start with the opening goal in the 18th minute. After winning an aerial challenge against Aaron Cresswell near the midfield line, Jesus Navas tore down the right flank and crossed into the middle, where Collins was ready to clear. But the West Ham defender miskicked his clearance and instead looped the ball into his own net off the underside of the crossbar.
Collins made amends somewhat in the 27th minute, making a crucial block on Silva inside the box.
City goalkeeper Joe Hart made a pair of saves near the half-hour mark to keep his side ahead. In the 28th minute, the England stopper came off his line quickly to stop Carlton Cole from a tight angle. Two minutes later, Enner Valencia directed a tame effort on target from range, and Hart saved comfortably.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 36th minute with a classic counter. Yaya Toure won possession in City's half before Aguero led the move down the middle of the pitch. The Argentine passed to the right for Navas, who quickly squared back into the middle. After taking a touch in the box, Aguero finished through Adrian's legs to make it 2-0 heading into half-time.
It was Aguero's 20th Premier League goal of the season, most in England's top flight. More surprisingly, though, it was an eighth league assist for Navas, who has shown uneven form throughout the campaign.
The second half began much as the first had played out—with City on the front foot. Toure set up Aguero with a smart reverse pass into a promising position in the 49th minute, but Aguero's shot was blocked.
City endured a frightening moment in the 67th minute, when Silva received an elbow to the face from Kouyate. The contact seemed unintentional on replays, but the injury appeared quite serious. Silva left the pitch on a stretcher, while wearing a neck brace, following a delay of about eight minutes.
West Ham carved out a rare chance in the 79th minute, but City's Eliaquim Mangala made a well-timed block to deny Stewart Downing. Valencia created danger on the left side of the box in the 87th minute after dancing past City's Martin Demichelis, but his cross-shot curved wide of the post.
Hart had to make a save one-on-one with Kevin Nolan after the West Ham man pounced on a poor back pass in City's half. It was West Ham's best spell of the match, but the visitors were ultimately unable to turn their pressure into a goal. After an extended period of stoppage time, City held on for the win.
Grades
| Joe Hart | 7.3 |
| Pablo Zabaleta | 7.9 |
| Martin Demichelis | 6.9 |
| Eliaquim Mangala | 7.1 |
| Aleksandar Kolarov | 7.4 |
| Frank Lampard | 7.0 |
| Fernando | 7.2 |
| Jesus Navas | 7.7 |
| Yaya Toure | 7.3 |
| David Silva | 6.3 |
| Sergio Aguero | 7.6 |
| Samir Nasri (for Silva, 75') | No rating |
| Fernandinho (for Lampard, 88') | No rating |
| Edin Dzeko (for Aguero, 90') | No rating |
| Adrian | 6.0 |
| Carl Jenkinson | 6.6 |
| James Collins | 6.1 |
| Winston Reid | 6.5 |
| Aaron Cresswell | 6.1 |
| Mark Noble | 6.9 |
| Alex Song | 7.1 |
| Cheikhou Kouyate | 6.3 |
| Stewart Downing | 5.2 |
| Carlton Cole | 6.4 |
| Enner Valencia | 6.5 |
| Kevin Nolan (for Cole, 66') | 6.4 |
| Matt Jarvis (for Song, 66') | 6.1 |
Reaction
Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini, via BBC Sport:
"At this moment he (David Silva) is in hospital and they are checking if he has a broken bone in his cheek. The referee was very near. He decides what happens and gave a yellow card. I hope that it was an accidental collision.
It was important to win because we come from two defeats. We must continue working altogether and it is very important to finish as near to the top of the table as possible.
…
(On his future) No comments about that.
"
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, via BBC Sport:
"We gifted them two goals. It was pretty disappointing on the basis of how we conceded them. The freak own goal got them on the way and then it was a poor piece of possession in their half. If you are going to get back in the game you are going to have to show the resilience we did in the second half and Enner Valencia toe-poked wide and Kevin Nolan had a shot saved.
You can't make the mistakes we made and expect to get anything out of the game. We created our two best chances late on but are not as clinical as we used to be. The goal threat has not been as potent as we showed earlier on in the season.
"
Follow @MiguelCominguez
