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John Stones’ third league goal of the season secured Manchester City points
Manchester City extended their winning streak to 20 games and advanced a 13-point lead to the top of the Premier League, as John Stones’ second-half goal was enough to seal the victory over West Ham United.
The Stones shot home his fourth goal of the season after a neat sacking by Riyad Mahrez to keep Pep Guardiola’s team in control of the title race.
Fourth-ranked West Ham gave City a decent game at Etihad Stadium and struggled to equalize through Michail Antonio before the break, after Stones central defensive teammate Ruben Dias had put the hosts at the front.
But Guardiola, compared to celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal by Hammers counterpart David Moyes, before Saturday’s game, once again came up with the right ingredients as his team improved after performances in the second half of Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden.
City’s undefeated record now stretches to 27 games and they will match their longest unbeaten streak under Guardiola if they don’t lose to Wolves on Tuesday.
- Follow the reaction to Man City’s victory, plus the rest of Saturday’s Premier League live action Lawro’s predictions against Dot Major from electro-pop band London Grammar
Normal service resumes for De Bruyne
After about 20 minutes, City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne lined up a free kick, about 40 meters, to the right of the West Ham box.
The execution was terrible: the ball barely lifted off the ground and crashed into the wall, allowing the visitors to clear. It was a remarkable moment because it was so unusual.
What De Bruyne did with another crossover opportunity from a similar position shortly after was more in line with the Belgian’s normal standards.
Delivered on the left foot, the ball curved towards the goal, too far for West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph to reach, and begged Dias to head it off.
It was De Bruyne’s 11th assist of the season, like Tottenham’s Harry Kane, and it turned out to be a rare moment of inspiration for a City team well chained up to that point, with the return of Sergio Agüero barely having a touch.
The Argentine forward has suffered a series of setbacks since last summer.
He reached the second half this time after being replaced at halftime in his last Premier League start, also against West Ham in October.
But the 32-year-old was off the beat and didn’t react quickly enough to score a cross from De Bruyne in City’s final attack before being replaced by Gabriel Jesus after an hour.
Hammers beaten but not broken
They may have been beaten, but West Ham did enough to show that there is substance behind their push to the top end of the Premier League this season.
The arrival of Jesse Lingard on loan from Manchester United during the transfer window has added another element of attack to his game and has returned the 28-year-old striker to the form that earned him recognition from England.
Lingard had a powerful shot blocked by the Stones and it was his misdirected effort that Antonio turned home to bring the Hammers’ level.
Considering it was the first time an opposition player had scored for the Etihad since Mohamed Salah’s penalty for Liverpool on 8 November, it was no small achievement.
There were times when it seemed West Ham could take it further, as the pace of Lingard and Antonio, Declan Rice’s midfield industry allies, whom Guardiola said he looked up to in preparation, caused anxiety in the home defense.
Antonio hit a post just before scoring and, in injury time, Issa Diop had goalkeeper Ederson scrambling for a header that narrowly rebounded.
However, City finally found a winner, as they have done every time they have played West Ham at home with Guardiola in charge.
Moyes’ team is now confident that Manchester United avoid defeat to Chelsea on Sunday to retain their place in the top four.
Whats Next?
Manchester City are next in action on Tuesday when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League (20:00 GMT). West Ham’s exit from the FA Cup means they are spared a reshuffled midweek match and now have a nine-day break against host Leeds United on March 8 (8pm).
More to follow.
Man of the match
AntonioMichail Antonio
with an average of 7.78
- Man CityManchester CityManchester CityWest HamWest Ham UnitedWest Ham United
Manchester CityAvgTeam Number3Player NameRuben DaysAverage Score
7.38
Squad number 5 Player name Stones Average rating
7.38
Squad number 17 Player name De Bruyne Average rating
6.61
Squad Number 26 Player Name Mahrez Average Rating
6.51
Squad Number 47 Player Name Foden Average Rating
6.49
Squad number 8 Player name Gündogan Average rating
6.42
Squad number 11 Player name Zinchenko Average rating
6.36
Squad number 25 Player name Fernandinho Average rating
6.25
Squad number 31 Player name Ederson Average rating
6.21
Squad number 2 Player name Walker Average rating
6.18
Squad number 9 Player name Gabriel Jesus Average rating
6.05
Squad Number 16 Player Name Rodri Average Rating
5.95
Squad number 10 Player name Agüero Average rating
5.92
Squad Number 21 Player Name Towers Average Rating
5.62
West Ham United Average Team Number 30 Player Name Antonio Average Rating
7.78
Squad number 5 Player name Coufal Average rating
7.07
Squad Number 41 Player Name Rice Average Rating
6.93
Squad Number 15 Player Name Dawson Average Rating
6.89
Squad Number 28 Player Name Soucek Average Rating
6.87
Squad number 11 Player name Lingard Average rating
6.79
Squad Number 3 Player Name Cresswell Average Rating
6.70
Squad Number 18 Player Name Fornals Average Rating
6.59
Squad Number 23 Player Name Diop Average Rating
6.58
Squad number 9 Player name Benrahma Average rating
6.35
Squad Number 35 Player Name Randolph Average Rating
6.20
Squad number 31 Player name Johnson Average rating
6.12
Squad Number 20 Player Name Bowen Average Rating
6.07
- Lineups Match Statistics Live Text
LineupsMan City
Formation 4-3-3
31Ederson2Walker5Stones3Rúben Dias11Zinchenko17De Bruyne25Fernandinho8Gündogan26Mahrez10Agüero21Torres
- 31Ederson2Walker5Stones3Rúben Dias11Zinchenko17De Bruyne25FernandinhoReserved at 90 minutes8GündoganSubstituted by Rodriat 89’minutes26Mahrez10AgüeroSubstituted byGabriel Jesusat 61’minutes21TorresSubstituted byFodenat65’minutes
Substitutes
- 7Sterling9Gabriel Jesus13Steffen14Laporte16Rodri20Bernardo Silva22Mendy27Cancelo47Foden
West Ham
Formation 3-4-2-1
35Randolph23Diop15Dawson3Cresswell5Coufal28Soucek41Rice31Johnson18Fornals11Lingard30Antonio
- 35Randolph23Diop15Dawson3Cresswell5Coufal28Soucek41Rice31JohnsonReserved at 28 minutesReplaced by Bowen in 84 ‘minutes18Fornals11Lingard30AntonioReplaced by Benrahma in 84’ minutes
Substitutes
- 4Balbuena9Benrahma10Lanzini16Noble20Bowen25Martin34Trott45Odubeko
Referee: Michael OliverMatch StatsHome TeamMan CityAway TeamWest HamPossessionHome63% Away37% ShotsHome10Away9 Shots on targetHome3Away3CornersHome4Away2FoulsHome8Away11Live TextPost update
End of the match, Manchester City 2, West Ham United 1.
90 ‘+ 5’ Full time
Second Half Final, Manchester City 2, West Ham United 1.
90 ‘+ 4’Post update
Failed attempt. Whoops! Very close to the right post but … it escapes to the left. Issa Diop (West Ham United) header from the center of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jesse Lingard with a cross after a foul.
90 ‘+ 3’ Reserve
Fernandinho (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90 ‘+ 3’Post update
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
90 ‘+ 3’Post update
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90 ‘+ 2’Post update
John Stones (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90 ‘+ 2’Post update
Foul by Tomas Soucek (West Ham United).
90 ‘+ 2’Post update
Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
90 ‘+ 2’Post update
Jesse Lingard (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90’Post update
Corner in favor of West Ham United. Corner committed by Oleksandr Zinchenko.
89 ‘Substitution
Change, Manchester City. Rodrigo replaces Ilkay Gündogan.
87’Post update
Offside, Manchester City. Ederson tried a deep pass but Gabriel Jesus was in an offside position.
87’Post update
Phil Foden (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87’Post update
Foul by Pablo Fornals (West Ham United).
86’Post update
Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).
86’Post update
Jesse Lingard (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
85 ‘Post update
Offside, West Ham United. Pablo Fornals tried a through ball but Jarrod Bowen was caught offside.
84 ‘Substitution
Change at West Ham United. Jarrod Bowen replaces Ben Johnson.
84 ‘Substitution
Change at West Ham United. Saïd Benrahma replaces Michail Antonio.
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