MANCHESTER CITY 2 - 0 FULHAM
A double by City`s Spanish wizard David Silva helped them reduce the gap over their bitter cross city rivals to just 4 points, as a workman like Manchester City beat Fulham 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium.
City were hoping to carry on their recent good form, and it took all of 95 seconds for the Blues to get on the scoresheet and continue it , As England star James Milner intercepted a pass by Karagounis in midfield as he knocked it into the path of Edin Dzeko who ran at the Fulham defense before having a strike from outside the area, To which Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer made a stop only as far as the Silva who put it in the net for a great start for the Champions.
After the goal though, City didn`t seem to take advantage as they should have been doing looking for more goals.
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| PIC: bbc sports |
It was the visitors that seemed to pick up the play as they had more possession of the ball, the only problem was they never looked too threatening when they had hold of it.
City was guilty of a lost of loose passes going astray as they were struggling to make attacks from the terrible off- key passing they were making and were looking far from playing great.
City did have a couple of chances as Dzeko had a tame header saved by Schwarzer, Carlos Tevez had a shot that rolled to the keeper as he couldn`t get any power on it & a ball whipped in from the right wing was nearly met by Tevez as he tried to get ahead on it but was to high.
Fulham then had their only attempt in the game as a cross came in but Stuart Sidwell couldn`t get much on the header as he battled with City captain Vincent Kompany but his effort did shave the outside of the goal post and go out of play.
City had one last attack in the first half as a ball kicked up field by Kompany was chased down by Carlos Tevez, But he tried to get round Hangeland who was trying his best to hold him off but he got to the ball eventually. The Argentinian waited looking for some support but none was forthcoming till a surging Edin Dzeko ran into the box took the pass, but his effort was struck over the bar from an angle. So as the additional minute was played out the referee blew for Half Time as the home side went into the break 1-0 up.
2nd half was much of the same Fulham with the ball, but struggling to break down City defenses as the home side was solid at the back and looked hard to score against. One of City best player on the pitch Argentine defender and heartbeat of the club Pablo Zabeleta got injured in a good move in the Fulham penalty area. There was some concern over him as he was down for a bit as he collided with a Fulham defender in the attack. But the hard as nails defender got up and jogged around to the touchline to a stand ovation by the City fans along with his name sung by the fans.
But unfortunately for the defender a couple mins later, he had to stay down as the injury beat him & was replaced by Samir Nasri returning from his 3 match ban. Fulham were still having more possession of the ball than City was ,but wasn`t making any in roads at all on goal. City you thought if they had a chance would probably score due to the the class they had and the fact it`s sods law.
And true to that it`s exactly what happend, as play from Nastasic was flicked on by David Silva to Gael Clichy by the touchline, His pass to Tevez was deftly flicked onto Silva who`s first touch was excellent & the Spanish star nicknamed "Merlin" by the City fans did a little dink over the keeper putting it into the far side of the net for a 2 goal lead. As Silva was weaving his magic agaisnt the West London side. This seemed to break Fulham as a minute later Silva should have scored his Hat trick, As a ball was rolled to him & as the Spaniard ran on goal he tried to place it at the far post, but just by Millimetres missed the target for 3-0.
Citys attacking play was starting to take effect, As another breakaway on the Counter attack was led by Dzeko and as he played Nasri in the Frenchman tried to round the keeper, But rushed his shot as he went wide of the keeper as it slowly rolled to goal but was picked up by Hangeland on the line.
City welcomed Sergio Aguero back to the fold as he replaced Carlos Tevez who had a bad day at the office for him. Silva was replaced not long after to a tumultuous applause from the City faithful as Joleon Lescott took his place.
The blues missed yet another glorious chance for 3-0 in the dying seconds or in particular Dzeko, Somehow the Bosnian hitman blazed over from 8 yards out when a low cross was played to the Striker unmarked and free at the back post and managed to do the hardest thing possible and launch it high over the bar in the Family stand end!
The referee blew his whistle to signal full time and the points stayed in Chilly Manchester and gave the blue side a warm glow on a freezing cold afternoon.
MAN OF THE MATCH
21. David Silva
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