Battle of Blues ends in Stalemate

                         

                                                           

        MANCHESTER CITY    1   -   1 EVERTON

Saturday afternoon saw the Premier League Champions entertain the Royal blue half of Merseyside in Everton at the Etihad Stadium. Everton coming into the game on a back of 2 draws and City after their hard won game v Wigan last Wednesday. So as always a hard tough physical encounter was expected as they usually are Everton.

The early stages saw the visitors look the more threatening of the two teams, with good early pressure coming from the The Toffees, but City defence stood firm. City were called into a quick change of Personnel as Serbian defender Aleksander Kolarov went to cross and felt something go. So raised his arm up to the bench to let them know he was in trouble and had to come off injured with what looked like a Groin strain. And makes the Defensive side of City looking abit bare with Gael Clichy & Long term injury worry Micah Richards still sat on the sidelines. 

Everton were the most likeliest team to score and they good play that was predominantly down the left flank

as they seem to target Maicon as he struggling a bit with the play his side, He also many times was out of position leading Kompany and returnee to the side Joleon Lescott helping out as he went forward. Everton had a few chances but wasn`t making bringing Joe Hart into any action. 

Eventually the build up play by Everton got them a deserved reward as a cross came by Leighton baines was flicked on Croatian striker Nickica Jelavic and Marouane Fellaini headed goal ward bringing a Fantastic save out of the England number 1 but was helpless to stop the rebound as Fellaini followed his original shot up to send the Away support into raptures, And could David Moyes men inflict the first Home defeat on the blues in 2 years nearly since they were the Team that was last to beat them back in December 2010. 

City then shot into action and as Champions took the blow and came back at the Toffees and had a couple of chances, with a Carlos Tevez header creeping goal wards but being saved very well by Everton keeper Tim Howard as got down quickly to push it round the post. Edin Dzeko then had a chance too as he the ball came to him from a Nasri pass and his low shot at the near post was spilled but luckily went out of play and not towards an oncoming City player.

The resulting Corner led to a penalty for the home side as Dzeko was tugged in the area by Fellaini and drew protests by the Everton players for it not to be one. Carlos Tevez took on the responsibility of the spot kick and stroke it down the middle sending Howard the wrong the way and make the score all level at 1 all.

City had most of the possession from then on in the first half and couldn`t break down a tough Everton side.  

HALF TIME :  MANCHESTER CITY   1  -   1  EVERTON

2nd half saw City pressure Everton more, as the away side seemed to be willing to sit back and go on the Counter as they frustrated the Champions, Everton had a few good counter attacks but was easily cut out by the 3 solid defenders Pablo Zabeleta, Joleon Lescott and Captain and Man of the Match performance by Vincent Kompany. Everton looked a bit clueless when attacking as the City defense took everything and blocked and looked more solid than earlier in the season.

City attacks abit like Everton were rare, as both side were trying to get the upper hand in the Midfield battle as both cancelled each other out. Dzeko was having his best game for City but when the ball was floated to him instead of trying a pop at goal, he chose to unselfishly head in the direction of a blue shirt and was cleared by the Everton defence.

Mancini made a strange substitution  by taking the aggressive and most mobile striker in Tevez and replaced him with Sergio Aguero to the crowd not liking the move as many if not all thought it would be the Bosnian hitman Dzeko that would make way for him. As it was his appearance didn`t make much of a difference or that of the Controversial Italian striker Mario Balotelli as Dzeko came off for him.

Neither team looked destined to score as the defences cancelled each team out, but after a foul missed by the Referee on a city player Everton stormed up field and a tackle by Zabeleta on Jelavic was deemed to be a foul. So just before Stoppage time Everton had a chance to steal the game and Jelavic himself stepped up and Joe Hart saved it spun and for Hart & City went for a corner.  Time was called on the match and so a point apiece for both sides. With City temporarily going top of the tree for an couple of hours before United played Reading later that evening.