MAN CITY 2, WEST HAM 1
Manchester City’s form has dipped, but they keep on winning as they stumbled past struggling West Ham at the Etihad.
In the past week City’s displays against Huddersfield, Southampton and West Ham have failed to hit the dizzy heights of early season.
What would ordinarily have been three comfortable wins turned out to be three nail-biters with victory only secured through late goals.
http://gty.im/884796756
The bottom line, however, is City have collected nine points to remain eight clear at the top of the Premier League.
City, now with 13 straight Premier League victories and one away from Arsenal’s record of 14, had to come from behind after Angelo Ogbonna gave the Hammers the lead late in the opening half.
Goals in the second period from Nicolas Otamendi and David Silva extended City’s unbeaten run in all competitions to a staggering 28 games.
Hammers, now without a win in eight Preimer League games, certainly pushed City to the limit.
City manager Pep Guardiola was delighted with the win, explaining he believes he has discovered a way to beat opponents who put 10 men behind the ball.
Guardiola, who introduced Gabriel Jesus at the break to partner Sergio Aguero, said: “The good news for the future is that I have learned a lot.
“When teams like Huddersfield, Southampton and West Ham defend, we need to play with two strikers and two wingers and to attack them.
“When the opponent doesn’t want to win and defends with 10 behind the ball, and I am not being critical, hopefully in the future it will be easier.
“We have to learn to attack in that position, something we did in the second half. We had more problems in the second half against Huddersfield than here.
“Against Southampton, I had a feeling at the start of the second half we would struggle to score, but I was so, so pleased how we played in the second half against West Ham.”
City made four changes from the midweek win against Southampton.
Vincent Kompany, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan and Jesus made way for Eliaquim Mangala, Danilo, Silva and Leroy Sane.
There was a fabulous reception by the City fans for former favourite Pablo Zabaleta who was making his first return since his summer departure.
But goalkeeper Joe Hart was not permitted to play at the Etihad as he is on loan from City.
The Hammers were set up to frustrate with 10 players behind the ball when they didn’t have possession.
And it succeeded earl on as City struggled to carve out clear-cut chances.
Indeed, it wasn’t until the 25th minute that Adrian, Hart’s replacement, was forced to make his first save, a terrific tip over after Silva’s drive from 20 yards took a wicked deflection off Declan Rice.
The Hammers almost snatched the lead 10 minutes later when Cheikhou Kouyate released Manuel Lanzini whose rasping angled drive was turned behind by keeper Ederson Moraes.
City were stunned when Hammers took a 44th minute lead, Ogbonna soaring high to head hoe Aaron Cresswell’s cross from 10 yards.
“We’ve scored a goal”, chanted the jubilant visiting fans as their team had been on a miserable run.
City made a change at the break as Jesus replaced Danilo with Fabian Delph switching from midfield to left back as they switched from 4-1-4-1 to 4-4-2.
And it was a successful change as Jesus provided the assist for City’s equaliser from Otamendi.
Hammers’ Declan Rice fouled Delph on the edge of the box and Kevin De Bruyne’s brilliant free kick was brilliantly saved by Adrian.
From the resulting short corner, Raheem Sterling’s free kick released Jesus whose low cross was bundled in by Otamendi for his fourth goal of the season.
City suddenly discovered a spring to their stride as Sane cut in from the left and unleashed a terrific strike that Adrian superbly saved.
Sane had suddenly come alive as his fierce shot was beaten out by Adrian who not ling after made a stunning save to keep out an effort from Sterling.
It was one-way traffic, though Hammers almost regained the lead with nine minutes left on the break through Michail Antonio who cut in from the left and forced a great save from Ederson.
But City took the lead for the first time in the 83rd minute through a sublime volley from Silva from six yards as he converted De Bruyne’s cross for his second goal of the season.
Guardiola’s response was to withdraw Aguero and introduce Fernandinho to reinforce midfield and hold onto their slender lead.
The Hammers wasted a glorious chance to make it 2-2 in the 90th minute when substitute Marko Arnautovic beat Mangala on the right. His low cross was met by Diafra Sakho, another sub, but he fired wide when he ought to have found the net.
City made their last change in stoppage time when Sane was replaced by Bernardo Silva as they held on to their slender advantage.