Strikes from Yaya Toure, Adam Johnson and a Robert Green own goal secured three precious points for Roberto Mancini’s men, who now trail Arsenal by goal difference only ahead of the Gunners’ visit to Manchester United tomorrow.
Toure opened the scoring after 30 minutes, the Ivory Coast midfielder combining with England international Gareth Barry to rifle an unstoppable shot past Hammers keeper Green. Toure was responsible for City’s second goal on 73 minutes, surging into the West Ham penalty box and firing a low shot which cannoned off the post and into the net off Green’s back.
Johnson, who had came on as a substitute to replace Mario Balotelli after the volatile Italian striker earned a booking for dissent, completed the scoring with a well-taken effort on 81 minutes.
West Ham defender James Tomkins scored a late consolation for West Ham, heading in from a corner on 89 minutes. The defeat left the Hammers bottom on goal difference, four points adrift of safety.
Villa sink Albion to ease pressure on Houllier
Stewart Downing and Emile Heskey eased the pressure on Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier as their goals clinched a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion yesterday.Downing’s first-half strike set Villa on their way to only their second win in 11 matches and helped boost Houllier’s popularity levels. Heskey notched a fortunate second 10 minutes from time to secure a memorable end to a nightmare seven days for the under-fire Houllier, even though there was a late scare when Albion’s Paul Scharner scored in the final moments.
Winless woe continues for Everton
Everton’s woes mounted where a goalless draw with struggling Wigan left David Moyes’ team without a victory in seven league games and rooted firmly at the wrong end of the Premier League table. Despite enjoying a vast superiority in possession and chances, Everton were unable to find a way past Wigan’s goal-keeper Ali Al-Habsi and a sequence of two victories from nine home league games to date is cause for concern.
Blackpool defeat Stoke
Blackpool tore up the Premier League form book once again to score yet another away win with a 1-0 victory over Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. A second-half goal from DJ Campbell handed the Tangerines their sixth win of the season and moved Ian Holloway’s men into the top half of the table with 22 points from 16 games.
Yet Blackpool kept Stoke on edge and playmaker Charlie Adam created a gilt-edged opportunity for Elliot Grandin from six yards out only for the midfielder to fail to pounce.
The result was yet another statement of defiance to the widespread pre-season predictions that the newly promoted minnows would be sent hurtling straight back to the Championship this year.
Mignolet saves Sunderland
A fine second-half performance from Sunderland goal-keeper Simon Mignolet earned his side a point at struggling Fulham in their Premier League clash as the match ended in a 0-0 draw.
The draw kept Fulham - last season’s surprise Europa League finalists - just out of the relegation zone on goal difference while Sunderland remain sixth in the table.
The result means Mark Hughes has never lost to a club managed by former Manchester United teammate Steve Bruce he will be more concerned that his side has won just once now in 13 Premier League matches.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 12th, 2010.
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