David Moyes said he wants more from his forward players. Perhaps they had one eye on the visit of Brighton on Wednesday, particularly after Thursday’s trip to Vienna in the Europa League, but the game was gradually taken away from them after Gundogan scored and there never felt like much chance of a repeat of their heroics in the 3-2 win against Liverpool a few weeks earlier.
A point, in truth, would have greatly flattered West Ham, who started well and were good in moments but lacked the quality going forward to hurt their opponents. It was a good job for Guardiola, too, because Manuel Lanzini cracked home a sumptuous volley with almost the last kick of the game and, in doing so, robbed Ederson of the chance of a 100th clean sheet as a City goalkeeper. The rest is fantasy, normally if you have the wrong thoughts in your mind it create problems in the team.”Ĭity had to wait until the brink of stoppage time for a second, with Fernandinho stroking home a lovely finish from the edge of the penalty area from Ilkay Gundogan’s square pass shortly after coming on to eventually double the advantage given to them by Gundogan in the first half. “The only thing is to celebrate this, recover well and go to Birmingham on Wednesday to play Aston Villa. “What we have done in the past is the past,” the City manager said. December’s fixtures are appetising as well, although Guardiola is not getting carried away. The smart money would still be on a three-horse title race come the onset of spring but both Chelsea and Liverpool will be acutely aware of City’s ability to turn the screw and embark on dizzying winning runs.
West Ham United have aspirations of Champions League football but they were mostly kept at a safe distance on an afternoon when City again made light of the absences of Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish to record a fifth successive win in all competitions. Winter invariably brings out their relentless streak and the challenge for the rest has often been to try to keep pace with this beautifully oiled machine.Ī 2-0 defeat to Tottenham around this time last year proved the catalyst for an unbeaten 28-game run in all competitions and we may come to reflect on the surprise loss at home to Crystal Palace at the end of last month as being a similar springboard this term. The snow was falling and temperature plummeting but this is the time of year when Manchester City like to turn up the heat on their rivals.įor all their technical flair and pretty patterns, there is nothing fair weather about Pep Guardiola’s players.
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