Blackpool 2 – 3 MAN CITY – MY THOUGHTS

That’s what champions are made of. We hear it all the time, the oft-used cliché ‘winning when you’re not at your best.’ And that’s precisely what Man City did yesterday away at Blackpool. Despite being outplayed throughout the match by the silky, free-flowing football of the home side, City battled hard towards the end, led by our inspirational captain, Carlos Tévez, who scored twice to lead us to victory. The Tangerines will be left with a sour taste in the mouth and must chew on this bitter defeat, whilst the Blues return to Manchester, basking in their sweet victory.

Lavish praise must be heaped onto Blackpool, whose star player, midfield maestro Charlie Adam, could be bought by Yaya Touré if the Ivorian completed three weeks work. Their passing and movement was a joy to behold, as City failed to get a foothold in the game in the first half. The second period brought renewed vigour from the visitors, but it was still Blackpool who looked the most likely to open the scoring.

But one ignores Tévez at one’s peril, and so it proved when the Argentinean flicked home David Silva’s cross with a delicate movement of his right boot, despite appearing to be standing in an offside position. Then, just as it looked like the Blues were coasting home with the three points, Marlon Harewood glanced home Adam’s free-kick to level the scores. But merely a minute had elapsed when City regained the lead, courtesy of a slight deflection from a Tévez shot after more hard work from the striker.

Substitute David Silva, who, in my humble opinion, was the catalyst for the turnaround after his introduction, sublimely added a third, a sumptuous finish from his majestic left boot. At that point, my pre-match prediction of a 3-1 City win, with Tévez to score a brace and Silva the other one, was looking perfect, up until Gary Taylor-Fletcher poked home at the back post in the third minute of injury time to add a consolation for Blackpool.

As much as it delights me to see another City win, a victory that moves us into second in the table, it does slightly concern me that we are so clearly performing at a level far beneath our best. There didn’t seem to be the desire in the first half, as we lacked any sort of cohesion and battling spirit. Nobody embodied this more than the unfortunate Nigel de Jong, who looked scared to make a challenge after the vitriolic public backlash he received in the wake of his tackle of Hatem Ben Arfa. Without that commitment, de Jong is not half as effective, so for City’s sake, let’s hope that he recovers from that mental struggle as soon as possible.

Just to pick up on what I mentioned earlier with regard to David Silva, and it was clear to see that we needed his calmness and control on the pitch as our opponents harried us. He replaced Manu Adebayor early in the second half, and immediately, we looked a brighter outfit. His ability to bring others into the game is unparalleled among the rest of our squad and he exudes a confidence that must inspire and relax his teammates. It’s a hard balance for my good friend Roberto Mancini to strike, as he possesses three genuinely quality players, Silva, Milner and Adam Johnson, who are competing for two places, but at the moment, I would like to see Silva and Johnson, with Milner to add something from the bench.

I must give a brief mention to Emmanuel Adebayor, handed a very rare start alongside Tévez and he must have been looking to back up his frequent outbursts with a sterling performance. Unfortunately, he was, quite frankly, abysmal. If he is unhappy with starting on the bench, he must grab his chance when it comes, but he looked lethargic throughout, never bringing others into the game and giving the impression of an unhappy striker. My view: get rid in January.

So, overall, an undeserved three points but it will be taken without much complaint. If the Blues can continue this form, and more importantly, these results, over the next few matches, the title may be a real possibility.