adminManchester City 2-0 West Ham
Manchester City sealed the Premier League title as they swept aside West Ham at the Etihad yesterday. Goals either side of the break from Samir Nasri and Vincent Kompany were enough to give City a comfortable 2-0 win in front of a jubilant and Poznaning home crowd. With a draw enough to hand them the crown Manuel Pellegrini could have been forgiven for setting his team up somewhat conservatively, but Sergio Aguero was handed a recall as they looked to add to their 100 league goals.
The home side started the game strongly, as expected controlling the ball for long periods without opening up the well organised visitors to any real effect. City could have had a penalty when Pablo Zabaleta was felled in the box but saw his claims waved away by referee Martin Atkinson.
Joe Hart was largely a spectator but was left sore when he clashed with Kevin Nolan in an ugly coming together which saw the Hammers skipper booked.
After Edin Dzeko wasted a couple of half openings and the returning Aguero stung the hands of Adrian from range Frenchman Nasri settled any lingering Etihad nerves with a crisply taken opener five minutes before half time.
After another spell of tidy possession Nasri picked up the ball on the edge of the area before drilling a skidding 25-yard strike into the left-hand corner of Adrian’s net.
With the atmosphere now more relaxed and the watching faithful in jubilant mood City could have headed into the break further ahead, Andy Carroll’s outstretched knee diverting David Silva’s sharp shot on to the crossbar in added time.
But they didn’t have to wait too much longer – captain Kompany slamming home from a corner five minutes after the interval after a ricochet off Dzeko saw the ball sit up perfectly for him six yards out.
Buoyed in the knowledge that a second Premier League title in three years was now in their grasp City continued to pour forward on the lookout for more goals to add to their record-breaking season.
Silva again went close when Matty Taylor deflected a shot wide before Aguero inexplicably miscued when only a matter of yards out with the goal gaping.
Nasri nearly added a second himself late on but Adrian denied him sharply after the midfielder was released by a delicious Yaya Toure clipped ball through.
But it mattered not as the final whistle blew sparking wild celebrations amongst players and fans alike for Pellegrini’s first and City’s second Premier League crown — Mirror
Online Reporter