Adebayor stakes his claim

Manchester City 3 Lech Poznan 1:EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR became the first Manchester City player to score a European hat-trick on a night when David Silva's elusive movement and adhesive touch proved far too good for a spirited Lech Poznan.

The Togolese striker’s three goals of a hitherto personally mixed season propelled his team to the top of their Europa League qualifying group while also prompting doubts about whether Roberto Mancini really needs to spend a fortune on Wayne Rooney.

A banner unfurled by City fans before kick-off proclaimed “2011: The Wait Is Over”. Whether its intention was to forecast that Mancini’s side will lift the Europa League trophy, win the Premier League title or simply sign Rooney next year remained unclear, but optimism at Eastlands runs so high that some home supporters would not be surprised were all three to be secured this season.

But early on last night Alex Ferguson’s “noisy neighbours” hinted that they are mortals after all.

When Nigel de Jong was caught in possession in his penalty area City’s Dutch destroyer – sitting alongside Patrick Vieira in front of Mancini’s defence – was unceremoniously dispossessed by Slawomir Peszko who hit a shot wide.

Reprieved, City rallied and, with the Poles struggling to cope with some of their slick one- and two-touch football, deservedly took an early lead.

Tripped by Luis Henriquez down the right, Adam Johnson dusted himself down to take a swift, short free-kick which allowed Silva, revelling in a free role, and Vieira to thread the ball smartly to Adebayor. All that remained was for Adebayor to swivel superbly and, having turned his marker, pass his first goal of the season into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Although Joe Hart, again preferred to Shay Given in this competition, had his hands stung by a shot from Kamil Drygas, City were in clear control and it was not long before Adebayor was celebrating his second. It came courtesy of a measured Silva cross and some shocking marking on the part of Manuel Arboleda who permitted Adebayor the space to angle a free header beyond the goalkeeper’s reach from 12 yards.

If some of the wonderfully boisterous 6,000-strong contingent of Poznan fans must have been fearing a repeat of their team’s sole previous visit to England – when they were thrashed 4-0 at Liverpool in the European Cup 26 years ago – the visitors, creditably, were not about to fold.

Even so Poznan were arguably lucky not to be reduced to 10 men when Bartosz Bosacki was merely yellow-carded for a brutal tackle on Pablo Zabaleta.

The second period had barely begun before a goal was pulled back.

Capitalising on crossed wires between Johnson and Zabaleta, Peszko seized possession only to be brought down in the box by Joleon Lescott. To City’s relief the referee neglected to award a penalty, but it proved a brief respite as, when the ball eventually fell to Joel Tshibamba, the unmarked striker lashed it into Hart’s net.

Ignoring the Mancunian chill, the away fans celebrated by whipping their shirts off and literally dancing with joy.

A glorious, subtly curving ball from the excellent Silva permitted Adebayor to half-volley his hat-trick.

MANCHESTER CITY: Hart, Lescott, Richards, Boyata, Zabaleta (Bridge 85), De Jong, Vieira, Wright-Phillips (Jo 77), Silva (Toure Yaya 75), Adam Johnson, Adebayor. Subs not used: Given, Kompany, Milner, Tevez.

LECH POZNAN: Buric, Kikut, Bosacki, Arboleda (Djurdjevic 69), Henriquez, Peszko, Injac , Drygas (Rudnevs 55), Wilk (Stilic 55), Krivets, Tshibamba. Subs not used: Kotorowski, Gancarczyk, Zapotoka, Wichniarek. Booked: Bosacki.

Referee: Alexandru Dan Tudor (Romania).