Manchester City 2 Stoke City December 26th 2009
Barclays Premier League att 47,325
Roberto Mancini's reign at City started with a comprehensive easy win against an average Stoke side. A full house watched a well organized but under strength City side score twice in the first half. For the first time for a while we won a league game without conceding and it was most noticeable how organized things were on the field of play. It makes you wonder why the defence had not been tightened up before. Though the manner of Hughes departure could have been managed much better the reasons for it having been so noticeable with the succession of draws and brittle defence. Mancini appears to have done wonders in only a few days. Though the defence is not yet perfect considering all the injuries there was a great improvement.
When the team were first announced I was a little worried about the absence of Santa Cruz ,SWP and Bellamy. I need not have been concerned. Tevez did a fine job up front and there was much quicker linking play between Petrov, Ireland and Barry. Robinho looked the weakest link on the day. The second half was not as good as the first but with a game on Monday evening at Wolves I am sure Mancini will be delighted with the result.
There was a new name in the squad today - Dedryk Boyata a 19 year old defender from Belgium who has come through the Academy. With so many first team defenders injured this was not unexpected. There was a minor PR disaster when the announcer first read out the Stoke City team without giving their numbers. Where do we get these people from?
Injuries hit City hard with SWP, Adebayor, and Santa Cruz missing from the forwards and Kompany coming in for the injured Lescott and Onuoha. Bellamy was on the bench.
New manager Roberto Mancini is introduced to the crowd and gets a good welcome
Stoke were first to attack the City defence having to concede an early free kick for a foul on Tuncay.
Tevez wins a corner from Diao
Robinho was knocked off the ball far too easily by Wilkinson when put through by Petrov. There was a muted appeal for a penalty
A Tevez shot goes wide of the mark
Toure in a heading duel - probably his last game for a while
A shot from Robinho is comfortable saved by Sorensen
After 19 minutes Stoke had a good chance when Tuncay broke through but Given made a great save injuring himself in the process when he collided with Toure
It looked very worrying at first but after treatment he was able to resume - thank goodness
The elegant Mancini contrasted with ex City manager Reid -now assistant at Stoke
Note that at corners City had all eleven players defending!
Gareth Barry's run is ended with a tackle and we all wait for the referee.....
..... who rushes up and dramatically points ....
for a goal kick!
A minute or so later a good run by Tevez .....
...ends with the ball been crossed where Robinho misses a chance .... but fortunately the ball runs on ....
...... to Martin Petrov who scores easily with his right foot! One nil to City
A red sky at night is a Mancini delight!
Salif Diao apologizes to De Jong before being booked
Petrov shoots high wide and handsome!
Now this was another change in defence Given coming well out of goal to catch!
A Robinho effort goes well wide of the mark
Robinho is just beaten to the ball by Wilkinson at the far post
Well into first half injury time following a corner Zabaleta's long ball was headed by Barry.....
... to Tevez who manages to touch the ball past Sorensen to give City a two goal lead at half time.
The Manchester Show Choir entertain the crowd at half time
Very early in the second half City almost scored again. A good move involving several players ended with a Petrov shot which was well saved by Sorensen who had to react quickly to push the ball away from the onrushing Robinho who was closing for the kill
Tevez who once again was having a great game continued to give the Stoke defence plenty to think about
Given about to make a great save from Beattie
A vastly improved City defence stand firm
Huth heads wide from the corner
Craig Bellamy -on for Robinho to great applause announces his arrival by clattering into Fuller
Richards on for Sylvinho to combat Beattie
Bellamy had a good shout for a penalty when he flew past Huth.....
Craig Bellamy lets the referee know what he thought about the claim for a penalty
Higginbotham shoots wide as the game comes to an end with City claiming the three points
A late City corner and the penalty area is packed with players
Team
Given 7.5: Zabaleta 7, Toure 7, Kompany 7.5, Sylvinho 7 ( Richards 7): Ireland 7.5, De Jong 7, Barry 8, Petrov 7.5, Robinho 6 ( Bellamy 7) Tevez 7.5 (Garrido)