West Ham Utd 1 Manchester City 0: WHEN THE Abu Dhabi millions arrived at Manchester City in August the fans would have expected joy to characterise their club's prospects by March, but on the first day of the month the sense of disarray continued.
Defeat here was as deserved as it was significant with City’s wretched away form now stretching to 14 matches without victory.
Craig Bellamy’s injury completed a truly awful afternoon for the Welshman. He was constantly jeered and heckled on what was the 29-year-old’s first return to Upton Park since he left on acrimonious terms during the last transfer window. The striker will see a specialist in London today over the knee problem he sustained during the match.
But if Bellamy had a wretched day, what of Robinho? City are giving serious consideration to offering the Brazilian to Chelsea in the summer as part of a swap deal for John Terry and, on the basis of this performance, are unlikely to have changed their position. He missed two close-range shots within seven first-half minutes and hardly threatened thereafter.
To compound City’s worries, the former Real Madrid playmaker hurt an ankle and may now be out for several matches. With 12 goals to his name, Robinho remains important for City’s short-term ambitions which are increasingly taking the form of a scramble to survive in mid-table.
“We’re doing well in the Uefa Cup but our priority is to finish strongly in the Premier League, which we’re struggling to do at the moment,” conceded City manager Mark Hughes. “That is largely down to our away form which has been a concern all year. We’ve performed better in recent matches, particularly at Liverpool where we played excellent, but overall we’ve not got many positive results.
“On occasions that’s been because we’ve played like the home team and got caught on the break, which was the case again today.”
Well, up to a point. City were the better side for the opening 20 minutes, but their best chances fell to Robinho, first on 14 minutes when he flicked Vincent Kompany’s shot within reach of Robert Green, and then when he scuffed Bellamy’s cross wide. From there on West Ham seized control.
Freddie Sears and David Di Michele tested Shay Given prior to the interval before Carlton Cole came close with a header early in the second half.
The hosts’ pressure eventually paid off on 71 minutes when Jack Collison scored with a delicate lob after Given had parried Savio Nsereko’s curling drive straight to the 20-year-old.
There was little threat to the lead after that – Elano came closest with a free-kick – and West Ham soon had their first victory in six games.
“This was a crucial win because of the run we have been on,” said West Ham’s manager, Gianfranco Zola. “We were getting worried, but I knew we would pick up again. I am delighted.”
The Italian’s mood was tempered by the injury to Valon Behrami. The Swiss was carried off on 39 minutes after his studs caught in the turf and he landed badly on his left knee.
For City the focus is winning, particularly away from home, but with their next trip being to Chelsea the gloom is unlikely to lift soon.
Guardian Service
