man city v West Ham april 2013

Not the most memorable of games but a useful three points to keep the following pack at bay and a step nearer to second place. The City goals were excellent -the first by Aguero was the result of great team inter passing and the second was a wonderful individual strike by Yaya Toure.
After the poor 6 minutes at Spurs a week earlier when three goals were conceded the defence were on better form and the selection of Lescott to deal with the height and power of Carroll who showed good form for West Ham was an excellent one.
It was good to see David Silva back from injury and he gave us that extra bit of creativity that was needed. Aguero and Tevez worked well together and Nasri once again showed better form.
The injury to Joe Hart was rather worrying especially as we had used all three substitutes and I wondered who would have gone into goal had he been forced to go off - Zabaleta perhaps!!

Silva returned and Aguero started - Lescott was preferred to Nastasic.

West Ham brought quite a good number of supporters despite the early kick-off

Moonbeam and Moonchester welcomed a spot of sunshine as the flag went round the ground

City almost scored in the first 8 seconds but the flag had gone up for offside

Lescott was in early action against Diame

The West Ham goal is under early pressure as City force several corners

On 17 minutes a David Silva shot goes just wide of the post

Nasri is brought down ...

Carroll is booked for a foul on Aguero

On 23 minutes the whole stadium applaud in memory of Marc Vivien Foe who also played for West Ham

Aguero was unlucky when his shot hit the post with the keeper beaten

Then on 28 minutes some great inter passing in the penalty area gave Aguero the chance to slot home from close range to give City a well earned lead

At the start of the second half City were forced to defend as West Ham tried for an equalizer

City did manage some counter attacks but failed to finish well when they really should have made the game safe

City continued to attack but their efforts were blocked by last ditch defending

Zabaleta and Kompany in action defending to keep the slate clean

Jaaskelainen saves from Nasri after 60 minutes

City have to mark tight in the box

Tevez breaks away and crosses and Nasri rushes in and he must score ---
no he misses the ball and another chance goes begging

Both players got yellow cards

After City had to defend a fee kick at one end on 79 minutes we had a wonder goal by Yaya Toure whose shot from the edge of the area.....

......whizzed into the far top corner with the keeper having no chance and it looked like the result was sealed

It was his 10th of the season and one of his finest

City continued to attack but here Aguero fails to hit the target

On 87 minutes Hart saves from Carroll and it looks as though the ball had crossed the line but if you look carefully you can see its shadow - it was in the air - the camera can deceive!

In making the save Hart was seen stretched out while play was at the other end - but help was soon at hand as trainer and doctor ran onto the pitch

He was soon on his feet again and we could all relax a bit.

In extra time Aguero just shoots wide and Hart has to save from Jarvis but as I left my seat to go in the final seconds West Ham scored - missed it!! first miss of the season for me!