Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United: Pep Guardiola's side claim 20th straight win
- Published
- comments
John Stones' third league goal of the season secured the points for Manchester City
Manchester City extended their winning run to 20 matches and moved 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League as John Stones' second-half strike was enough to secure victory over a resilient West Ham United.
Stones fired home his fourth goal of the season from Riyad Mahrez's neat lay-off to keep Pep Guardiola's side in control of the title race.
Fourth-placed West Ham gave City a decent game at Etihad Stadium and fought back to level through Michail Antonio before the break, after Stones' central-defensive partner Ruben Dias had put the hosts in front.
But Guardiola, likened to celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal by Hammers counterpart David Moyes before Saturday's fixture, once again came up with the right ingredients as his side improved following the second-half introductions of Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden.
City's unbeaten record now stretches to 27 games and they will equal their longest run without defeat if they do not lose against Wolves on Tuesday.
Normal service resumed for De Bruyne
After about 20 minutes, City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne lined up a free-kick, about 40 yards out, to the right of the West Ham box.
The execution was terrible - the ball barely got off the ground and ran straight into the wall, allowing the visitors to clear. It was a notable moment because it was so unusual.
What De Bruyne did with another crossing opportunity from a similar position not long afterwards was more in keeping with the Belgian's normal standards.
Delivered with his left foot, the ball curled towards goal, too far out for stand-in West Ham keeper Darren Randolph to come for, and begged Dias to head it home.
It was De Bruyne's 11th assist of the season - equal with Tottenham's Harry Kane - and proved to be a rare moment of inspiration for a City side well shackled up to that point, with the returning Sergio Aguero barely having a touch.
The Argentina forward has been beset by a series of setbacks since last summer.
He made it to the second half this time around after being replaced at the break on his last Premier League start, also against West Ham in October.
But the 32-year-old was off the pace and did not react quickly enough to tap home a De Bruyne cross on City's last attack before he was replaced by Jesus after an hour.
Beaten but not broken Hammers
They may have been beaten but West Ham did enough to show there is substance behind their drive towards the top end of the Premier League this season.
Jesse Lingard's arrival on loan from Manchester United during the transfer window has added another attacking element to their play and restored the 28-year-old forward to the form that brought him England recognition.
Lingard had a powerful shot blocked by Stones and it was his misdirected effort that was turned home by Antonio to pull the Hammers level.
Considering it was the first time an opposition player had scored at the Etihad since Mohamed Salah's penalty for Liverpool on 8 November, it was no mean achievement.
There were moments when it appeared West Ham might take it further as the pace of Lingard and Antonio, allied to the midfield industry of Declan Rice - who Guardiola said he admired in the build-up - caused anxiety in the home defence.
Antonio hit a post just before he scored and, in injury time, Issa Diop had goalkeeper Ederson scrambling to reach a header that bounced narrowly wide.
City eventually found a winner though, just as they have done every other time they have played West Ham at home with Guardiola in charge.
Moyes' side are now relying on Manchester United avoiding defeat at Chelsea on Sunday to preserve their place in the top four.
Guardiola brings up 500 and 200 - the stats
Manchester City's victory was former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola's 500th as a manager.
It was also his 200th win as City boss in his 273rd game in charge - the fewest games needed by a manager of an English top-flight side to reach that mark.
City are now unbeaten in 27 matches - winning 24. It is their second-longest such run in their history, after 28 games between April and December 2017.
Dias scored his first goal for City, becoming their 19th different scorer this season. Excluding own goals, they have had more different scorers than any other Premier League side in all competitions in 2020-21.
Antonio became the first West Ham player to score home and away against Manchester City in a league season since Iain Dowie in 1995-96.
Antonio's equaliser was the first home Premier League goal City have conceded since 15 December - a Dias own goal against West Brom - and it ended their 629-minute run.
'We were not going to paint anything beautiful' - what the managers said
Guardiola 'congratulates' City players after 'real tough' win
Manchester City manager Guardiola, speaking to BT Sport: "It was really difficult. They have the physicality, they have the quality of players.
"After 10 or 15 minutes today we realised we were not going to paint anything beautiful. When you play a lot of games - in the league and then the Champions League - this is normal.
"We were lucky to get all three points. The mathematics matter at the end of the season."
'Proud' Moyes 'can't promise Champions League football'
West Ham boss Moyes, speaking to the BBC's Match of the Day: "I'm really disappointed we didn't get a point. It was a terrific performance. We came here and tried to match a top side - and for long periods we did.
"I can't promise to deliver European football to West Ham. I've hoped that we can try and be top 10. We can't get carried away because we're up against teams who are used to being at the top of the league.
"We're the newcomers, for sure, but we've put on a good show and I hope this performance gives us momentum and energy for the rest of the season."
What's next?
Manchester City are next in action on Tuesday when they entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League (20:00 GMT). West Ham's exit from the FA Cup means they are spared a rearranged midweek game and now have a nine-day break before the host Leeds United on 8 March (20:00).
Gordon Ramsay's Bank Balance: Can contestants beat the balance board and walk away with £100,000?
Lockdown and food: Why it causes emotional eating habits and how can we manage them?
