MAN CITY 2, WEST HAM 1
Central defenders Ruben Dias and John Stones turned goalscorers to ensure the Manchester City juggernaut keeps rolling on.
On a day when other players failed to fire, Pep Guardiola’s side extended their top-flight record to 20 straight wins in all competitions and 27 games unbeaten as they extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to 13 points.
And City will be looking to make it 28 games without defeat against Wolves on Tuesday which will match their best-ever run under Guardiola in 2017.
It was a hard-earned 200th victory for Guardiola at City from 273 games, the quickest by any manager to reach the milestone.
City, with 14 straight Premier League wins, and the Hammers were the Premier League’s form teams of 2021 and this underlined the massive progress the visitors have made under David Moyes as they remained fourth.
However, they have failed to win in their last 12 games against City with their last success coming with a 2-1 win at the Etihad in 2015.
And Moyes’ miserable record away to the so called top six continued as this was his 41st game without a win – 12 draws and 29 defeats.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd Guardiola paid tribute to his players for making: “To win 20 games in this era and with this situation around the world, may be it is one of the greatest achievements in my career.
“We have won titles, but this is the toughest time in England with a game every three days and the Covid situation.
“It is the toughest year for society here and around the world and what we have done is incredible.”
Guardiola admitted his side was fortunate to win: “We were lucky to get all three points. The mathematics matter at the end of the season.
It was really difficult. They have the physicality. They have the quality of players in Lingard, Fornals.
“After 45 minutes, we realised we are not going to paint anything beautiful. Second half we were much better than the first half. When you play a lot of games, in the league and then the Champions League, this is normal.”
Stones also praised the Hammers: ” We are just glad to get three points and keep the run going.
“A lot of credit must go to West Ham. We knew what they would do. How they have been playing and their position speaks for itself. All credit. We had to fight them to the last few minutes.
“We weren’t at our free-flowing best as we have been. But that is down to how they set up. West Ham showed great character in the second half.
“We go about our business in our own way and keep fighting. We are playing the football we were a few seasons ago. We have fighters in the dressing room. It has been an incredible few months. We are in every competition to try and win them.”
Moyes gave credit to his players for their performance.
He said: “I want to praise the players as we were up against best team in the Premier League and probably the best in Europe, and gave them a good game.
“We were always in the game and need to take the moments which come your way.
“If we continue to play like that, we will be up there at the end of the season.
“We are getting better but I still think there in improvement to come, but we stepped up today and that should give the players confidence.”
City striker Sergio Aguero made his first Premier League start since October and first appearance since January 3 in one of seven changes to the team that beat Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League in midweek.
Stones and Oleksandr Zinchenko came into defence, with Fernandinho, Riyad Mahrez, Kevin de Bruyne and Ferran Torres also recalled.
The Hammers made just two changes to the team that beat London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
Goalkeeper Darren Randolph made only his second league appearance of the season in place of the injured Lukasz Fabianski, while Ben Johnson came in for Jarrod Bowen.
City were slow off the mark and had to be patient against a well organised Hammers’ defence.
They made the breakthrough in the 29th minute with their first goal attempt of the match when Dias headed home a Kevin De Bruyne cross from six yards, his 11th assist of the season as he also entered the all time top 10 for Premier League assists.
It was the Portuguese international’s first goal for City in the 32nd appearance since his £61 million September move from Benfica.
The Hammers wasted a great chance to equalise 10 minutes later when Antonio’s shot on the turn from Jesse Lingard’s cross clipped the base of the upright. He would surely not be presented with a better chance all afternoon and he ought to have made it 1-1.
That was not the case as Antonio equalised two minutes before the break.
Vladimir Coufal made an overlapping break on the right and his low cross was met by Jesse Lingard whose shot was turned home at the far post by Antonio, the first goal City had conceded at the Etihad in eight games since December 15.
City were struggling against a well-organised Hammers and on the hour brought on Gabriel Jesus for Aguero. This was quickly followed by the introduction of Phil Foden for Torres.
They regained the lead in the 68th minute through Stones who stayed up front from a reworked corner.
Mahrez cut the ball back from the right after a twisting run for Stones to sweep home a low shot from 10 yards, the central defenders fourth goal of the season.
Stones has scored three goals in his last eight Premier League games after just one in his first 170 appearances in the competition. He has scored four goals in all competitions in 2021, more than any other Premier League defender.
Ilkay Gundogan departed for Rodri in the 89th minute as City looked to close out the game.
There was a scare for City in the fourth and final minute of added time when Issa Diop headed narrowly wide from six yards following a Lingard cross.