Big Match Review .. Manchester City 1 Everton 2
December 21st 2010 11:03
Link: twitter.com/mattsaltmer
Last night at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester City re-enforced what I already knew about the Premier League this season ... nobody wants to win it. Given the crazy week that had passed, with none of the top sides in action because of the weather, Mancini's boys had a fantastic chance to be top for Christmas. But they were blown away by Everton in the first twenty minutes.
After just four minutes, Seamus Coleman's cross found Australian Tim Cahill, to put the Toffees into a 1-0 lead. Given that Everton had won at this ground the previous two seasons, this was not the start City wanted. But with so much incentive for City, a chance to replace Manchester United of all teams at the top, their players just didn't seem to fancy it.
The in form Leighton Baines netted the second after 19 minutes, stunning the Eastlands faithful. 2-0 to Everton inside twenty minutes, and Man City barely looked like getting back into it before half time. Silva and Balotelli both tried to beat Howard, before Kolarov succeeded, but his effort deflected just wide. It remained 2-0 until the break.
Despite putting in a good performance as a lone striker, Victor Anichebe became the villain of the piece after an hour, receiving a red card. The sending off was for two bookable offences, neither of which were really for terrible fouls. But the pressure was well and truly on the away side, knowing that they had a third of the game to hold out with ten men. Could Carlos Tevez, happy again at the club, inspire a City come back?
It was Everton centre back Phil Jagielka who got Man City back into it, putting through his own net after 72 minutes. Despite pressing until the end, an equaliser did not come though for the home side. The only thing they levelled up, was the man count, Kolo Toure sent off in injury time.
But Everton clung on for an impressive 2-1 victory, their first Premier League win in eight matches, lifting them to 13th in the table. For Manchester City, it will be disappointing heading into Christmas 3rd, knowing they had such an opportunity to be 1st. Chelsea will also move back ahead of them if they win their game in hand.
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