This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/oct/25/west-ham-united-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
West Ham United’s Diafra Sakho on target again to down Manchester City West Ham United’s Diafra Sakho on target again to down Manchester City
(about 3 hours later)
Behold the new West Ham United. Last season Sam Allardyce’s side were beaten four times by Manchester City, shipping 14 goals in the process, but here the revamped East Londoners outgunned the Premier League champions in a thrilling early afternoon showdown. In doing so they confirmed their emergence as great entertainers - and surprise candidates for an enduring place in the top four. Behold the new West Ham. Last season Sam Allardyce’s side were beaten four times by Manchester City, shipping 14 goals in the process, but here the revamped east Londoners outgunned the Premier League champions in a thrilling early afternoon showdown. In doing so they confirmed their emergence as entertainers and surprise candidates for an enduring place in the top four.
Back in the summer, when the sun never set on the grumbling of West Ham fans about the their team’s bleak play under Allardyce, few would have foreseen such a scenario. But crafty recruitment has helped Allardyce fulfil his promise to deliver a more flamboyant style and all of the recent acquisitions made important contributions here, while stalwarts such as James Collins and goalkeeper Adrian excelled to deny City an equaliser as the champions raised their game in the second half. Back in the summer, when the sun never set on the grumbling of West Ham fans about the their team’s bleak play under Allardyce, few would have foreseen such a scenario. But crafty recruitment has helped Allardyce fulfil his promise to deliver a more flamboyant style and all of the recent acquisitions made important contributions here, while stalwarts such as James Collins and goalkeeper Adrián excelled to deny City an equaliser as the champions raised their game in the second half.
The former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, sticking up for his old chum Allardyce, had wondered aloud last week whether such a thing as the “West Ham Way” really existed: this display laid down a template that many teams would love to claim as their own.The former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, sticking up for his old chum Allardyce, had wondered aloud last week whether such a thing as the “West Ham Way” really existed: this display laid down a template that many teams would love to claim as their own.
“It had grit, determination, quality, desire and everything you could want, including one or two flashy moments,” chirped Allardyce.“It had grit, determination, quality, desire and everything you could want, including one or two flashy moments,” chirped Allardyce.
There was little sign of a shift in power in the early exchanges, as City created a series of good opportunities. Sergio Ag¸ero let fly with a 25-yard shot that Adri·n pushed behind for a corner in the second minute. David Silva then went close with a free-kick from similar range. Two minutes later Silva used a free-kick on the right to cross to Vincent Kompany, who nodded over from eight yards. There was little sign of a shift in power in the early exchanges, as City created a series of good opportunities. Sergio Agüero let fly with a 25-yard shot that Adrián pushed behind for a corner in the second minute. David Silva then went close with a free-kick from similar range. Two minutes later Silva crossed in a free-kick on the right to Vincent Kompany, who nodded over from eight yards.
But West Ham gradually took control. Joe Hart had to make a block from Valencia after Sakho flicked on a long free-kick. Posing problems from set pieces is no novelty for an Allardyce team but West Ham soon served up a delicious example of the incisive new style that they have developed this season. In the 21st minute Alex Song split the City defence with an inspired low pass into the path of Valencia, who sprinted past GaÎl Clichy and pulled the ball back for Amalfitano, who slotted into the net from close range. But West Ham gradually took control. Joe Hart had to make a block from Enner Valencia after Diafra Sakho flicked on a long free-kick. Posing problems from set-pieces is no novelty for an Allardyce team but West Ham soon served up a delicious example of the incisive new style that they have developed this season. In the 21st minute Alex Song split the City defence with an inspired low pass into the path of Valencia, who sprinted past Gaël Clichy and pulled the ball back for Morgan Amalfitano, who slotted into the net from close range.
With the hosts infused with fresh vibrancy, the whole midfield was dancing to Song’s tune. “Quality players look forward to the bige games when the players of lesser quality get a bit anxious and think ’oh look who I’m playing against today’,” said Allardyce. “Songy’s led us as a team and the rest of the lads have responded to that. His promoting and passing and also his protection of the back players are excellent.” With the hosts infused with fresh vibrancy, the whole midfield was dancing to Song’s tune. “Quality players look forward to the big games when the players of lesser quality get a bit anxious and think: ’Oh look who I’m playing against today’,” said Allardyce. “Songy’s led us as a team and the rest of the lads have responded to that. His promoting and passing and also his protection of the back players are excellent.”
City became disjointed, just as they had done when throwing away a two-goal lead against CSKA Moscow in midweek. Valencia should have given West Ham a bigger half-time lead but failed to connect properly with a shot from eight yards just before the break. Moments later an inventive set-piece move presented Allardyce’s side with another chance but Collins could not apply a decisive touch.City became disjointed, just as they had done when throwing away a two-goal lead against CSKA Moscow in midweek. Valencia should have given West Ham a bigger half-time lead but failed to connect properly with a shot from eight yards just before the break. Moments later an inventive set-piece move presented Allardyce’s side with another chance but Collins could not apply a decisive touch.
City came back to life in the dying seconds of the half and almost nicked an equaliser, only for Adri·n to make a fine save from Ag¸ero from close range. City came back to life in the dying seconds of the half and almost nicked an equaliser, only for Adrián to make a fine save from Agüero from close range. Manuel Pellegrini had to use the break to stimulate improvement from his team but decided not to make any personnel changes. The course of the game was not immediately altered either, as West Ham nearly scored with a flourish again in the 53rd minute, Stewart Downing flashing a shot just wide after a Song teed him up with a dinky rabona.
Manuel Pellegrini had to use the break to stimulate improvement from his team but decided not to make any personnel changes. The course of the game was not immediately altered either, as West Ham nearly scored with a flourish again in the 53rd minute, Downing flashing a shot just wide after a Song teed him up with a dinky *rabona*. Pellegrini finally made a substitution in 59th minute, with Stevan Jovetic replacing Edin Dzeko. Agüero nearly brought the visitors level moments later, but after a typical scurry into the penalty area the Argentinian was foiled, first by another smart save from Adrián, then by a block from Collins.
Pellegrini finally made a substitution in 59th minute, with Stevan Jovetic replacing Dzeko. Ag¸ero nearly brought the visitors level moments later, but after a typical scurry into the penalty area the Argentinian was foiled, first by another smart save from Adri·n, then by a block from Collins. As City slipped into a menacing groove and Yaya Touré awoke, Agüero went even closer, slamming the ball against the cross bar from six yards before his shot on the rebound was saved by Adrián.
As City slipped into a menacing groove and Touré awoke, Ag¸ero went even closer, slamming the ball against the cross bar from six yards before seeing his shot on the rebound saved by Adri·n. West Ham had to demonstrate their defensive qualities but still put City in trouble on the counterattack. The match was developing into a minor classic. A sweeping move by the home team in the 71st minute could have culminated in a splendid goal but Sakho’s shot just cleared the bar. That was followed by another intricate City move, which Touré tried to crown with a goal but his curling shot struck the crossbar. Ah, that fine margin between success and failure.
West Ham had to demonstrate their defensive qualities, though still put City in trouble on the counterattack. The match was developing into a mini-classic. A sweeping move by the home team in the 71st minute could have culminated in a splendid goal but Sakho’s shot just cleared the bar. That was followed by another intricate City move, which Touré tried to crown with a goal but his curling shot struck the crossbar. Ah, that fine margin between success and failure. West Ham found themselves on the right side in the 75th minute, when Aaron Cresswell raced down the left and crossed for Sakho, whose header was clawed out by Hart - but from a couple of inches behind the line.
West Ham found themselves on the right side in the 75th minute, when Cresswell raced down the left and crossed for Sakho, whose header was clawed out by Hart - but from a couple of inches behind the line.
West Ham had barely finished celebrating that when Silva cut their lead back to one goal, skittering into the box before placing a lovely curler into the bottom corner. Pellegrini thrust on James Milner and Aleksandar Kolarov as he sought to salvage at least a point, but West Ham did not buckle.West Ham had barely finished celebrating that when Silva cut their lead back to one goal, skittering into the box before placing a lovely curler into the bottom corner. Pellegrini thrust on James Milner and Aleksandar Kolarov as he sought to salvage at least a point, but West Ham did not buckle.