http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Roberto-c31294 Mancini’s men were unable to break down a stubborn Hammers defence at Upton Park, leaving them well off the mark in the Premier League table.
Contrary to the lethal form they displayed last year, the Citizens’ clinical finishing wasn’t with them in the capital and they struggled to find the back of the net.
Premier League winning manager Mancini opted for Edin Dzeko and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mario-Balotelli-c23937 to lead his line, but the duo were wasteful when given the chances and the Italian in particular looked frustrated after missing some guilt-edged opportunities.
The game started at a smart pace and could have seen a goal in the early stages when West Ham skipper Kevin Nolan blasted in a volley that was ultimately deemed offside by the officials. However, replays showed that the Londoners had been deprived of a priceless
chance to take the lead.
Despite their initial influence, Sam Allardyce’s troops struggled early on to dictate tempo and allowed the Sky Blues to retain their fluid passing in the centre of the park. The result was an open game, in which both sides failed to capitalize.
With his scoring record against City, Andy Carroll was the name being cheered at the Boleyn Ground, but the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 man failed to a worthy response and saw his effort go past the woodwork.
Luck it seems was squandered on the night as Yossi Benayoun’s shot hit the post when a goal seemed the more likely outcome.
City boss Mancini already knew that he had taken a potential gamble on Balotelli and the tactician was left to rue his decision when the mercurial Italian International failed to convert his team’s best chance in the first half.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Carlos-c8346 Tevez curled in a free-kick and despite having good contact with the ball, the ex-Inter Milan forward failed to keep it on target, before having similarly evasive results from a bicycle kick.
So at the break, both teams went in on equal terms, although City had reigned supreme in terms of their passing and creativity.
And the visitors continued where they had left, bombarding Jussi Jaaskelainen’s post with shot after shot. There was no definitive control on proceedings and both sets of players continued attack each other, with Carroll trying an audacious overhead kick
that ultimately went out for a corner.
Out of all the chances created on the night, no one was easier to convert than Tevez’s cross for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 International proved it wasn’t to be for Manchester City’s by toe poking it agonizingly wide.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sergio-c33030 Aguero, but the Argentine’s lame shots were unable to trouble the opposing goalkeeper, as West Ham celebrated a share of the spoils.
The former Nerazzurri trainer spoke to reporters after the match, venting his frustration and claiming that his side deserved to come out with a win as they created the most chances.
"I don't think it was a fair result. When you have 65 per cent possession, 22 shots on goal, and we're missing four incredible chances to score [you deserve to win]. I'm happy for the performance because we played well and I'm unhappy for the chances we're
missing. When you're missing incredible chances it's frustrating but the players are like me, but this is football.”
"I think that when you win the title, after [the second season] is more difficult. We've had some problems, with important players injured, in the first two months and this maybe is the biggest problem we've had.”
Tags: