Man City 3 West Ham United 1 Football LatestMark Hughes's Manchester City continued to give the Eastlands faithful something to cheer about with
Carlos Tevez opened the scoring after only 5 minutes, taking a Petrov pass and converting from six yards out with ease past England 'keeper Robert Green. Carlton Cole, who will be gunning for a World Cup spot probably behind Emile Heskey scored with a smart finish to equalise. Wright-Philips, also looking to impress constantly battered the left side of the West Ham defence but it was left footer Petrov that put City back in the lead with a well crafted curling free kick from just on the edge of the 'D'.
In the second half Man City continued to impress, with Bellamy, Wright-Philips and Tevez all looking sharp and hungry for success at the highest level. In the 60th minute Bellamy curled a great free kick into the danger zone for Tevez to head home his second goal to make it 3-1. City's tenacity pinned West Ham back continously in the second half. For the Hammers, Demanti was impressive when the visitors did get possession and pushed Given to make a good shot stop over his bar mid-way through the second half. However the home team remained strong balancing attacking football with maintaining possession. Gareth Barry nearly scored 12 minutes before the end with a fiercely struck left foot volley that Robert Green tipped over the bar neatly.
Cole and Demanti looked like Zola's best opportunity for a goal but must have been desperate for some joy as the Hammers are at the wrong end of the Prem at the moment.
Martin Petrov had a great chance to make it 4 with a right foot strike but sent it over showing how left sided he is. Santa Cruz came on with a couple of minutes to go to show Man City's strength in depth but the game was well wrapped up by then and Hughes will be looking forward now to pushing on from 5th position in the Premier League with one game in hand on Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.