Every Silva Lining, City 3 vs. 1 West Ham

“We deserved to win by more...”, Pep Guardiola – 28/08/2016.

Goals; Sterling (7, 90'+2), Fernandhino (18'); Antonio (58')

Line Up (4-1-4-1) (match ratings in brackets); 

Cabellero (5.5)
Zabaleta (5.5)
Otamendi (6.5)
Clichy (6.5)
Stones (7), (Kolorov (6.5), 59')
Fernandinho (7.5)
Sterling (9)
Silva (c) (7.5)
Aguero (6.5)
De Bruyne (7), (Fernando (5.5) 88')
Nolito (8), (Nasri (7), 75')

Stats;Possession, 67%/33%; Shots, 22(5)/9(2); Fouls, 5/10
Referee; Andre Marriner (2.5 blind as a bat!)

A breathtaking first half, followed by a wobble in the second, and an ending where City could have had another three goals. Another two steps forward and one back perhaps, as part of the City team's learning curve under Pep, but what a two steps they were. 

"Unplayable" is an over-used term within the media pundit hyperbole we hear every weekend, but, there were two or three moves by City in the first half which were beautiful to watch. One of these was Sterling's opener; Zabeleta and Clichy had kept the ball alive on the left after a long clearance from City's sixth minute corner, before passing to Stones, who played a brief one-two-three in the centre circle with Silva, allowing City's magician to gain three yards before drifting left, holding the ball just an extra second, to release Nolito on the left wing to drive a cross to Sterling which he met sweetly with his instep to guide the ball into the right of the goal, 1-0.

From that point on, for the first half, City looked to be a class of their own, fully in control of the game, it was only a wonder that City did not get a hat full. The second goal stemmed from Sterling's  continued industry, winning a free-kick from the right; which De Bruyne curled in beautifully for Fernandhino to meet solidly in the center of the area with bullet header, 2-0.

The start of the second half went equally well, with a couple of chances; one, an effort from Nolito found the back of the net, but was ruled out for offside. City could and perhaps should have had a third, had Aguero not been incorrectly called offside five minutes later. At this point West Ham were becoming more robust in their outlook on the game, and for the second game in a row the referee failed to do the brave thing and send off a player for blatant second bookable offences, this time Masuaku the left back being let off the hook on more than one occasion.

And then came the City wobble on 58', Zabeleta was outplayed on the right of the City area, allowing a simple cross and Antonio to pull one back for the Hammers. Game on.

For the next twenty minutes, City had to play themselves back into the game, with West Ham's continued pressing finally starting to pay dividends. But play themselves back into the game they did, and this is perhaps even better news than the twenty minute passing masterclass of the first half. Stones (incapacitated already with a knock to the eye, when West Ham scored) was replaced by Kolorov, who again looked calm and composed on the ball; perhaps not quite as imperious as Stones had been, but still unrecognizable from the player who disappointed so often last year. And then there was Nasri, unseen so far this season, he not only made a surprise substitutes appearance, but he was excellent, and could have had two goals of his own before being instrumental in Sterling's second to finally put the game beyond West Ham's reach in extra time.

So a great result, and in the end a great performance. Further headaches for Pep, but mostly in a good way, in that even the players not guaranteed game time seem to be playing great football when given the chance.  One piece of bad news is the possibility of Sergio being reprimanded for an off the ball incident in a fracas with Winston Reid. The replays showed a high arm from Kun following a push in the back, and given City's luck with referees, this may rob City of his services for the Derby in two week's time.

@l0ngwayfr0mh0me