Untitled Document

City dropped their first points at home in a disappointing defensive display against bogey team Fulham. After leading two nil City should have gone on to win convincingly but lapses in defence gave the visitors too many chances. Richards failed to convince at right back and I think Zabeleta will return after his suspension. I wonder whether Toure was fully fit and Lescott has yet to dominate in the box. Bridge did well when attacking but defensively needed helping cover from colleagues. From set pieces I wonder whether there is confusion whether the plan is 'man to man marking' or 'zonal marking'! Up front Bellamy was well off his best and Adebayor who got little service often wandered into offside positions. Tevez played well for 60 odd minutes but faded. There was not enough imagination and quick inter passing in the last third to beat the well organized Fulham defence too often. Fulham missed some great chances Zamora being the big culprit. At least we did not lose!

The officials were out early to carry out their beach ball recognition training routine!! Beach balls bought at a
Photo Shop!

Toure and Bellamy returned after injury, Richards in for the suspended Zabaleta.

There were a few more than the 171 that came for the cup game. Fulham must be the most poorly supported Premier club

Barry is called into action in a first few minutes

There was an early booking for Hangeland for a foul on Tevez

A header from Barry at a corner goes wide

A shot from Bellamy goes over the bar

For the first time this season the macs were out for the rain shower

Kamara looked well offside and had only Given to beat but his control at the edge of the area was poor and Given was able to save

City had a shout for a penalty when Adebayor was brought down. No luck!

Yet another City corner and Tevez continues to be held by Kelly

Adebayor fails to make much contact with a half chance and Schwarzer saves easily

Nigel de Jong gets in a shot and Schwarzer saves

A Greening shot goes wide

Tevez attempts a first time shot from a spinning pass but he mishits the ball completely

A shot from Barry is blocked

A header from Tevez from a corner goes just over the bar

A shot from Adebayor after 39 minutes goes just wide

Duff clears a Tevez cross to keep City out

Richards scores from a corner but the goal is disallowed for a foul by Barry - centre of pic! Tevez still being held!

Given and Toure go for the same ball to start the second half - will someone please call!

After just 2 minutes in the second period
Given pushes out a shot from Dempsey........

.....and the ball runs to Zamora who puts the ball over the ball from right in front of goal. An incredible miss

Schwarzer clears a corner

Yet another corner for City but this time pressure from Barry saw the ball drop towards the goal line ......

..... and eventually Adebayor and Lescott forced the ball over the line - Lescott getting the final touch.....

...and claiming his first goal for City

There was more to come! Five minutes later Barry fed Petrov who beat his marker.........

.... and cracked the ball past Schwarzer to give City a two goal lead

Petrov has now scored in every game he has started - is that a message to the manager!

However Fulham came back straight away and a Damien Duff shot from the edge of the area....

....and beat Given who was a bit slow to react to the shot

While the Fulham players celebrate Petrov tells the defence to get their finger out!

Worse was to follow. Just as Petrov limped off to be subbed by SWP Greening took a free kick and a header by Dempsey evaded the clutches of Given and all of a sudden it was 2-2. Previous games in recent seasons against Fulham came to mind and what should have been an easy win was turning into a nightmare!

Shortly after we had an interesting situation. One of the Fulham players went down - supposedly injured - the ball ran to SWP who made a dash for the goal line. The referee did not blow but I think the Fulham players thought we would just put the ball out of play! The ball went for a corner and the Fulham players surrounded SWP. The nearest linesman made no effort to stop things as the referee was still catching up with the play.

As the dispute progressed the 'injured' player suddenly arose from the dead and sprinted to join the dispute!

The ensuing corner was cleared - but surely that's not Tevez been held yet again! Oh for the extra officials!

Given has to save following a corner in the 78th minute. Phew!

A last minute Tevez shot is blocked