MAN CITY 2 – 0 West Ham – MY THOUGHTS

After what has felt like an eternity of deflation and anxious debates about the future, City got back to winning ways with a victory that was about as comfortable as possible. Any praise in the aftermath of this performance should be tempered by the backdrop of West Ham’s disinterested display, but following the despondency that engulfed the club after the Manchester derby, it was reassuring to see the players produce some eye-catching football and ease to the three points.

Was it the perfect riposte to all the criticism? Well, it wasn’t quite City at our free-flowing best, but many of the side’s characteristics when playing well, namely a high press and getting multiple bodies into the box, were evident. As with events at Old Trafford last weekend, City started strongly: pushing up collectively, showing an appetite to close down and forcing mistakes. Unlike against United, however, we kept that intensity up for more than ten minutes and established a clear lead.

It was plain sailing after that, the only worry being David Silva’s injury that saw him stretchered off and taken to hospital. Otherwise, West Ham were the perfect, obliging opponents. They sat deep, as so many teams do at the Etihad, yet they were neither compact nor up for the fight. We had so much space in which to work that it was a slight disappointment not to have scored more than two, but with the frustration of recent results still casting a dark cloud over the club, the win was the only thing that mattered.

It is hard to single out anyone who shone in particular, not, as with last week, because no-one played well, but because everyone contributed and showed a greater application than at Old Trafford. Jesus Navas had more of an end product than is often the case, Yaya Touré looked keen to get involved, Frank Lampard was cute with his passing and runs, and both fullbacks were bright in getting forward and adding an attacking thrust. Eliaquim Mangala in defence deserves a mention, too, for being less headless chicken and more controlled aggression. Joe Hart chipped in with a couple of saves as well. It was a good team display, one that was needed with confidence so low and momentum lost.

With five games left, the challenge is clearly to finish in the top three and guarantee a place in the Champions League draw without having to qualify first. More performances like this and that aim should be perfectly achievable.

Follow @viewfromablue