City 3 QPR 1
September 1st 2012 45,579
Now available from Amazon ( click on image for link)
WH Smith and the City shop
City made hard work of this win against QPR. There were moments of great football but missed chances and the odd defensive lapse left the result open until Tevez's 50th goal in the final moments. We were back to four at the back and with Aguero injured and Balotelli about to have an eye operation it was left to Tevez and Dzeko to lead the attack. Silva had a much better game now his fitness is up to speed and Yaya Toure was once again an inspiration in midfield. City retained their wonderful undefeated home record but I am sure Mancini would not have been completely happy about the performance in his 100th game as manager. Rodwell did well and looks like fitting in to the team now that De Jong has departed. Whether he will be preferred to Barry when fit remains to be seen. Tevez once again worked his socks off and deserved notching the clincher
team
Hart 6.5: Zabaleta 7 (K.Toure), Kompany 6.5, Lescott 6.5, Kolarov 6: Yaya Toure 8, Rodwell 7, Nasri 6 (Razak) Silva 7 ( Milner) , Tevez 8, Dzeko 7
City made several changes from the Liverpool game and new signings Garcia and Sinclair were introduced to the crowd
City laid siege to the QPR goal in the early minutes and won a succession of corners which failed to lead to a goal
A header by Yaya Toure is saved by keeper Green
An effort by Tevez is saved for a corner taken by Nasri
The ball is cleared off the line and runs to Toure whose shot is deflected for yet another corner
City had 6 corners in the first 15 minutes and QPR were under terrific pressure and hardly came into the City half
On 16 minutes Tevez had a shot deflected for a corner
From Silva's corner Tevez got in a shot which ran......
..... to Yaya Toure who slammed the ball into goal. Green managed to get a hand to the shot but it was too strong and City were ahead
At last City were a goal ahead and the celebrations started
There was only a small contingent of QPR supporters
Watching from the Colin Bell stand was Real Madrid manager Morinho suitably dressed in City sky blue!
Is it going to be high fives between Tevez and SWP?
A great move involving several players ended with Green saving from Silva
A young supporter enjoying the sun at half time with City one up.
A Nasri effort is blocked
Yet another corner is cleared by QPR
Joe Hart clears a rare QPR attack
Lescott clears from Shaun Wright-Phillips who got a good welcome by City fans
Joe Hart punches clear under pressure
A clash between Kolarov and Ferdinand .....
After 58 minutes QPR struck back. Silva lost the ball in midfield and a shot by Johnson was well saved by Hart but...
...leads to Ferdinand getting a lot of treatment
During the break Manager Hughes holds a tactics meeting
...following up was Zamora who had the easy task of heading home and the scores were level. Oh dear!
Two minutes later and City were in front again. A great left foot cross by Carlos Tevez was headed home by Edin Dzeko from close range Brilliant!
The relieved City supporters made the most of this great bit of play and Dzeko got thanks from his team mates
Green just beats Yaya Toure to the ball
Jack Rodwell pleads for forgiveness but still gets a yellow card!
City had a narrow escape when a free kick is missed by Nelson
Zamora gets a grip on Tevez!!
Two minutes into extra time after good initial work by Tevez he ended up deflecting a shot by Dzeko past Green for City's third goal.
The now relieved jubilant City supporters were able to enjoy the moment
As the sun went down behind the Etihad Stadium City fans made way home
